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At  CLAUDE  DUVAL  OF  CALIFORNIA] 


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MARAUDER  OF  THEMINES 


PIERCE  EGAFS~STOgjg 

THK  author  of  the  following  great  books  has  attained  a  success  as  genuine,  a 
nounced,  m  h,s  pecuhar  field,  as  either  Marryatt,  Bulwer  or  Dickens.     He  ha,   he  ^ 
rous  fixity  of  .mpamng  an  intense  and  absorbing  interest  to  his  varied  charact 
»  are  real  miracles  of  mgenious  complication,  their  denoumenta  bein.  riddle 
po-ible  of  .olufaon  by  the.  most  penetrating  of  novel  readers;  and  yet  all  Is  oond 
to  a  natural  and  probable  explanation.     P1EKc*  E<MN'S  pop,,^    isycolltinuall    J 
.ncreasc  and  most  deservedly  so-for  he  continual.y  improves  :  so  that  hi.s  Jv  . 
always  to  be  his  BEST  book. 


^          .    , 

at  may  SUc«fuly  vie  ttSiw  '  8°  elfecUvelJr  "»««M 

2.  Li  lian's  Fate,  or  Lads  of  Old  London.     8vo    Paper 


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11.   Lionel   Jocelyn.      8vo    Paper 

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BE  WITT,  Publisher,  33  Eose  Streel 


JQAQU1N, 


(THE  CLAUDE  DUVAL  OF  CALIFOKNIA); 


OB, 


THE  MARAUDER  OF  THE  MINES. 


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NEW  YORK: 
ROBERT    M      DE    WITT,    PUBLISHER, 

33  ROSE  STREET. 

Enterevl  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865,  by  ROBERT  M.  DE  WITT,  in  the  Clerk's 
Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


SYNOPSIS. 

MANY  are  still  living  of  those  who  can  yet  recall  the  feats  of  the  man  \vhose  namo 
gives  title  to  this  book.  Joaquin  Marietta  was  the  son  of  worthy  parents,  and  nothing  in 
his  early  youth  betokened  any  traits  of  the  monster  which  he  afterwards  became.  He 
left  Sonora,  the  lovely  country  of  his  birth,  and  visited  the  province  of  Mexico,  where  he 
became  attached  to  the  household  of  the  then  famous  Santa  Anna.  Quarrelling  with  one 
of  the  attaches,  he  openly  insulted  him  ;  but  the  man  he  insulted  did  not  resent  it,  and 
Joaquin  scornfully  rode  away,  to  soon  after  ra-appear  in  his  native  town.  Here  he  mar 
ried  a  young  Sonorian,  Carmela  Felix.  A  year  of  tranquil  happiness  had  barely  passed 
before  he  was  summoned  by  his  brother  to  visit  him  at  the  Mission  of  San  Jose,  in  Cali 
fornia.  He  went,  accompanied  by  his  wife.  Carlos,  the  brother,  was  rejoiced  to  have 
Joaquin  with  him.  Together  they  proceeded  upon  some  business  to  the  mines.  Here  a 
friend  of  theirs,  Flores,  was  found  in  possession  of  a  mule  alleged  to  have  been  stolen. 
Carlos  was  with  Flores  at  the  time  of  his  arrest ;  and  the  first  thing  that  Joaquin  knew 
of  the  arrest  of  his  brother  was  seeing  the  two  friends  hanging  from  a  tree — dead  !  From 
that  moment  Joaquin's  nature  and  disposition  underwent  a  fearful  change.  Still,  however, 
at  the  entreaties  of  his  wife,  Joaquin  resumed  work  us  a  miner.  On  one  occasion  a  set  of 
ruffians  tried  to  drive  him  from  the  claim  on  which  he  was  at  work.  Joaquin  resisted. 
Pistols  flashed,  Joaquin  fell,  wounded  and  senseless.  When  he  awoke  to  reason,  it  was  to 
find  Carmela,  worse  than  dead,  beside  him.  From  this  moment  the  fires  of  perdition  ap 
peared  to  blaze  in  his  heart.  From  crime  to  crime  he  passed  on  with  furious  rage,  until 
there  was  hardly  a  town  in  California  that  couldn't  show  the  victims  of  his  fatal  bullet  or 
the  smouldering  ruins  caused  by  his  torch.  In  the  following  pages  every  trace  of  his 
blood-stained  footsteps  is  closely  followed.  Some  of  the  facts  are  furnished  by  cotempo- 
rary  witnesses  ;  most  of  them  by  official  documents.  He  proceeded  from  step  to  step, 
wading  deeper  and  deeper  into  crime,  until  quiet  citizens  were  almost  afraid  to  breathe  his 
name  aloud.  Nor  was  he  alone  in  his  nefarious  exploits.  His  infamous  notoriety  sur 
rounded  him  with  a  band  of  satellites  only  inferior  to  himself  in  his  bad  eminence.  Reso 
lute  men  went — sometimes  in  parties,  sometimes  singly — to  waylay  and  capture  him. 
Very  few.  however,  returned  to  say  anything  of  his  whereabouts.  In  some  solitary  gulley 
the  daring  men  would  be  found,  with  some  token  or  other  left  to  signify  that  they  had 
met  their  death  at  the  hands  of  Joaquin  or  some  of  his  heartless  lieutenants.  So  great  at 
length  became  the  terror  inspired  by  his  ruthless  deeds,  and  fright  so  magnified  them  that 
hundreds  swore  that  there  was  not  one  Joaquin — but  a  dozen  at  the  least.  Sheriffs  of 
counties  hunted  him  with  picked  men.  The  Governor  of  the  State  offered  vast  rewards 
for  his  capture,  dead  or  alive.  Eventually  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  a  brave  American, 
Captain  Love,  who  secured  him  in  the  jail  at  Martinez,  from  which  he  was  taken  by  force, 
and  hung  by  a  number  of  Mexicans.  He  was  decapitated,  and  his  head  publicly  exhibited 
in  San  Francisco. 

In  addition  to  this  being  a  faithful  narration  of  the  fearful  deeds  of  Joaqnin,  incident 
ally  the  work  gives  a  faithful  delineation  of  "  life  in  the  diggings"  in  the  early  days  of 
California,  when  almost  every  nugget  of  gold  was  blood-spotted  ere  rude  Justice  bared 
her  death-dealing  arm. 


Bancroft  Library 

im^p 

J  O  A  Q  UI 

THE    CLAUDE    DUVAL    OF    CALIFOlliXlA. 


THE  sons  are  growing  or  grown  up  of  the  men  who  went  it  with  a  rush  through 
the  Golden  Gates,  by  the  different  ways  over  the  Camanche  infested  plains,  by 
the  sickly  Chagres  and  the  Isthmus  innocent  of  railroad  cars,  for  the  treacherous 
mongrels  to  scowl  at  in  '50  '51  and  '52.  There  are  many  of  the  brave  hearts, 
stout  frames — spite  of  fever  of  camp  and  field — keen  eyes,  hands  ready  for  friend 
and  against  foe,  generous  pockets,  and  welcoming  laugh  left — thanks  to  heaven 
of  the  Returned  Californians.  They  are  the  ones  who  will  not  hav3  to  be  more 
than  this  once  reminded  who  JOAQUIN  MURIETE  was,  that  Red-handed  Ravager, 
that  King  of  Cut-throats,  that  Murderer  of  the  Mines,  that  Pirate  of  the  Placers, 
that  deepest-cursed  of  greasers  in  gully  and  canon.  From  Maximilian's  north 
ernmost  lines  to  the  British  Territories,  from  the  Rocky  Mountain?  to  the  beau 
tiful  Pacific,  the  blood-scored  adventures,  live  yet,  the  celebrity  is  still  well 
known  for  robbery  and  killing. 

England  does  pretty  well  with  her  Jonathan  Wilds,  Captain  Bloods,  cruel 
highwaymen,  and  captains  of  other  crews.  Italy  is  all  very  well  with  her  Maz- 
zaronis,  Rmaldo  Rinaldinis,  and  Fras  Diavolo  (whom  the  opera  makes  fall  into 
a  trap  that  a  gosling  depredator  would  have  smelt  out,  a  cub-fox  avoid  and  a 
chicken  have  fought  its  way  out  of.)  And  France  may  ring  out  its  "  la  belle  " 
to  good  (or  bad)  purposes  with  Cartouches,  Mandrins,  Scorchers  and  Flayers, 
just  as  Germany  can  gutterally  chant  the  doing  sof  Robbers  of  theRhine,  who 
plundered  to  banquet  on  swine's  flesh,  beer,  Bolognas,  Limburger  with  or  with 
out  speck,  Schweitzer  kaese  and  all,  no  less  merilly  than  more  fastidious  bandits 
oil  wines  and  Cupuan  dainties. 

But — very  high,  ruddy  and  glittering  pile — it  takes  the  land  of  Gold  to  "  rake 
it."  Joaquin  is  the  implement  in  the  croupier's  hand. 

To  begin,  no  one,  is  to  think  El  Dorado  what  it  was  from  '48  to  '52 ;  not  at 

all.  The  spirit  never  winced  when  Sacramento  and  Saint (anv  name  in 

the  calender)  were  flooded  and  washed  to  nothing,  when  "  Charley  the  Chief" 
couldn't  save  "  Frisco  "  from  the  flames,  has  converted  the  chaotic  Eden  into  a 
proper  paradise,  where  everything  man  can  desire  grows  to  more  than  perfect* 
tion — from  lovely  and  grand-hearted  maid  to  luscious  fruits.  In  the  days  of  the- 
fresh-comes,  when  many  had  broken  bad  English  and  worse  French  in  chat  with 
Capt.  Sutter,  had  broken  savings,  (and  hearts  (?)  rn^iy  be)  over  the  Bella  Union 
tables,  had  broken  the  peace  of  dark  senoritas  who  dropped  coward  native  lovers 
for  the  fine,  large  Americans  who  stood  twenty  lassomen,  with  one  six-shooter 
or  a  twelve-inch  Bowie  hilt  and  blade. 

In  those  passed  times,  not  pastimes  by  a  long  shot,  the  man  was  liberal  \vho 
call  the  Shining  Shore  a  civilized  country,  and  he  would  not  be  believed  either. 


4  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of '(California J  ; 

There  were  ugly  crowds  flocking  there,  and  jail-birds,  and  those  who  ought  to 
have  been  encaged,  were  plenty  as  wild  prairie  fowls  in  a  Chicago  market. 

Too  many  Italians,  who  gave  themselves  out  as  broken-down  water-fountain- 
stand  keepers  at  Naples,  Florentine  money-changers  reduced  to  the  ranks  of  Laz- 
aroMS  by  robberies  on  them,  or  Venetian  gondoliers,  were  more  than  suspected 
of  being  beggars  who  had  flourished  daggers  and  flirted  out  pistols  as  spurs  to 
charity. 

Frenchmen  there  were  who  were  reported  to  have  revolutionized  a  little,  with 
out  other  authority  than  their  own,  principally  devoting  themselves  to  securing 
"  funds  for  the  cause," — a  cause  which  Jeanneton  and  Lamourdemarie,  girls  of 
caberets,  were  concerned  in. 

The  Spaniards  and  such  were  merely  ear-ringed  sailors  who  had  collided  with 
first  mates  and  had  to  hide  from  justice,  till  the  first  vessel  sailed  with  them  in 
the  hold  as  stow-aways,  in  such  seaports  as  kept  gibbets  standing  ;  or  were 
fellows  indisposed  to  clean  Havana's  and  Mexico's  streets  in  a  chain-gang  as  they 
feared  would  come  to  pass.  The  English  when  "  chummed  "  together,  might  be 
overheard  remembering  in  slang  certain  pocket-diving  and  crib-cracking  feats, 
along  with  "  lushing  "  in  and  about  St.  Luke's  Whitechapel,  Elephant  and  Cas 
tle,  Golden  Lane,  King's  Cross,  and  so  on.  The  States'  men  hailed  from  the 
chief  cities  and  did  not  recognize  one  another,but  preferred  strangers  to  mate  off 
with  instead  of  the  acquaintances  who  accosted  them  so  rudely  and  significantly 
on  the  wharf  or  plank  walk  :  '  Hullo,  ol'  Mississip',  whar  am  de  cards  dat  allers 

turn  Jack  V—     -'  Your  term  out,  Ned  1  or  did  you  jump  Sing  Sing  ?' '  The 

deuce  who'd  a-think  Charlestown  would  a-give  you  up  so  quick  !'  '  Gaul  darn  ye, 
if  'taint  Baltimore  who  forgot  his  name  warn't  Rob  Smith  an'  went  an'  signed 
it  to  a  promisory  note  !  Well,  I'm  te-totally  darned.'  And  Sidney  skylarks 
floated  over  the  Balboan  waters,  somehow  or  other. 

And  yet  a  number  of  these  men,  to  counter-balance  a  number  of  the  always 
accounted  good,  dropped  what  seemed  a  mask  (though  worn  for  years)  and 
went  to  work  with  spiked  pole,  spade,  pick,  barrow,  bowl,  sieve  and  cradle  as 
honest,  industrious  and  steady  as  the  best.  Their  reverse  counterparts,  losing 
their  outfits  and  their  money  to  live  on  in  the  saloons  though  they  were  clergy 
men's  sons,  rich,  of  high  station  and  all  that,  went  down  the  stream  after  a 
Niagara  fall. 

To  this  land  of  such  strangely  mingled  people,  came  Joaquin  Murieta  at  the 
opening  of  1848. 

He  was  born  in  Sonora's  capital,  in  Mexico,  of  a  family  respectable  enough, 
and  sufficiently  well  off  to  give  him  a  good  education  as  education  went  in  the 
priest-ridden  country. 

He  was  noticeable  during  his  youth  for  the  gentlest  and  most  placid  of 
natures ;  everybody  who  knew  him  in  those  days  speaking  rapturously  of  his 
then  noble  and  generous  spirit. 

In  '45,  being  sixteen  years  of  age,  Joaquin  left  his  native  place  to  seek  hij 
fortune  in  the  capital  of  all  the  provinces,  Mexico. 

As  he  was  of  good  figure  and  not  unpleasing  bearing,  he  soon  obtained  the 
situation  of  squire  in  the  wealthy  household  of  President  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna. 

Mean  as  was  this  post,  the  young  blade  was  told  that  it  might  be  merely  the 
first  round  of  a  ladder  reaching  to  eminence,  for  he  was  ambitious  and  a  little 
chafed. 

Santa  Anna  had  always  been  a  lover  of  horsemanship,  a  piece  of  information 
received  gladly  by  Joaquin,*vho  was  somewhat  noted  in  his  parts  as  a  vaquero 
for  he  had  tamed  wild  horses  time  and  again,  not  to  say  accomplished  wonder 
fully  the  lesser  feats  of  tossing  bulls  on  their  backs,  lassoing,  picking  up  hand 
kerchiefs  from  the  dust  at  full  gallop. 

He  saw  in  the  governor's  passion  a  means  of  pointing  out  himself  and  doubt 
less  of  being  promoted. 


Or,   Tke  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  5 

His  elevated  hopes  did  not  come  to  effect  as  easily  as  he  had  anticipated. 
He  had  to  lower  his  pretentious  a  little,  besides,  on  account  of  the  way  in 
which  his  fellow  riders  discountenanced  his  attempts  to  shine  above  them. 

One  of  these  other  horsemen  was  a  Mexican  named  Camplido,  who  had  often 
growled  about  the  somewhat  aristocratic  airs  which  Joaquin  had  taken. 

The  latter  saw  the  enmity  growing,  but  pretented  at  first  not  to  notice  the 
sneers  and  scornful  looks  with  which  he  was  liberally  favored  :  he  minded  lib 
own  business  instead  of  letting  himself  be  troubled  with  other  affairs,  an  act  of 
good  sense  that  seems  unrivalled  in  a  Mexican. 

So  unrivalled  that  Camplido  dtd  not  imitate  him.  He  made  his  padre  pray 
for  an  opportunity  to  come  to  him. 

It  came  very  soon.  Joaquin  was  jumping  up  on  his  horse  one  day,  not  in  a 
stately,  regular  mode  according  to  rule,  but  after  a  savage  style  which  he  had 
caught  from  some  Texan  borderers.  He  lit  fair  and  true  in  the  saddle,  but,  in 
half  turning  to  make  sure  that  the  crupper  had  not  been  displaced  by  his  fall, 
lightly  as  it  had  been  made,  saw  a  grin  on  Camplido's  face  and  half  heard  him 
saying  something  to  a  couple  of  fellows  beside  him. . 

"  Did  you  speak  to  me  1"  cried  Joaquin,  turning  pale  and  then  red  under  his 
browned  skin. 

"  Why,  yes,"  replied  Camplido,  who,  being  a  full  grown  man,  was  not  going 
to  let  the  little  bantam  hear  him  deny  his  crow.  "  And,  if  you  want  to  know. 
Mister  Sonorian,  what  I  said,  it  only  was :  "  Carajo,  what  a  clumsy  way  to 
bestride  a  nag." 

"  Clumsy !"  echoed  the  other,  holding  in  his  mount,  "  it's  an  American  way, 
whijph  none  of  you  inland  cowards  dare  try  with  a  wild  mustang  as  /  can." 

And  he  proudly  smiled  at  remembrance  of  the  days  when  the  herds  of  wild 
horses  had  been  corraled  and  tamed  by  himself  and  his  friends,  boy  though  he 
was. 

"  That's  it !  speak  well  for  the  heathen  Americans,  the  grasping,  cowardly, 
lying  race !"  cried  Camplido  with  all  a  Mexican's  contempt  for  the  people  who 
had  taken  Texas  and  were  afterwards  to  take  more  from  the  "  sick  man"  of 
America. 

"  Heathens,  no  doubt,"  retorted  Joaquin  hotly.  "  Grasping,  eh  ?  yes,  if  you 
mean  the  Americans  are  men  to  grasp  a  friend's  hand  heartily  and  a  foe's 
throat  like  a  vice.  Cowardly  !  oh,  yes  !  Cowards  generally  do  go  trapping  and 
hunting  in  the  Indian  territory,  they  do  tackle  'Rapahoes  seven  to  one,  they  do 
chase  Comanches,  they  ten,  the  redskins  a  hundred  and  fifty  and  all  braves  ; 
they  do  rescue  poor  girls  stolen  from  the  missions,  out  of  Apache  villages ; 
thats  the  way  of  cowards,  is  it  ?  They  lie,  do  they,  of  course  ?  They  said 
they  would  settle  Texas,  and  they  didn't,  eh  ?  they  said  they  would  have  there  a 
republic,  and  they  hoisted  no  lone  star  on  the  tall  cedar-poles  left  standing  in 
their  clearings,  oh,  no  !  Seems  to  me  their  piece  of  Mexico  counts  one  in  the 
Union's  twenty  and  odd  states  !  Any  how,"  concluded  the  Sonorian,  with 
flushed  cheeks  and  working  hands,  "  I  have  not  learnt  bad  horsemanship  from 
such  fearless  riders,  though  they're  not  up  to  your  mark,  Senor  Camplido. 
Suppose  you  see  if  /  am." 

"  I'm  willing,"  -said  the  Mexican  furious,  "  and  I  don't  mind  seeing  if  your 
little  tender  paws  can  handle  a  cuchillo  of  .a  man  better  than  they  do  a  bridle 
of  a  horse." 

But  the  others  prevented  the  contest  being  for  the  present  any  other  than 
one  of  cavaliers. 

*'  We  must  see  the  trial  first,"  muttered  one  of  the  witnesses.  "  Caspita  ! 
they  can  cut  throats  afterwards." 

On  the  appointed  day,  the  whole  household  of  the  President  got  together, 
with  the  secret  hope  of  having  a  laugh  over  the  foregone  discomfiture  of  the 
young  Sonorian. 


6  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

The  two  contestants  opened  performances  with  a  couple  of  short  runs, 
various  tricks,  rearings,  prancings  and  all  the  artificial  steps  of  the  *  manege.' 
This  was  only  to  warm  the  blood  of  both  horses  and  masters. 

Leaping  over  an  adobe  wall,  six  feet  high  and  three  thick,  with  a  hundred 
feet  for  siart,.  without  a  graze  of  a  horse's  hoof  to  tell  the  story,  was  the  finale. 
Carnplido  was  first,  and  over  he  went  to  the  cheers  of  his  friends. 

Joaquin  was  smiling  to  himself,  for  he  was  thinking  of  how  he  had  often 
taken  greater  jumps  over  huge  fallen  trees,  wide  splits  in  the  ground  from 
earthquakes,  broken  and  dethroned  boulders,  clumps  of  cactus  and  thick  hedges 
of  the  chapparal. 

He  walked  his  horse  on  for  fifty  feet,  and  only  began  to  gallop  within  half 
the  prescribed  distance. 

As  he  neared  the  wall,  ere  he  was  within  a  yard  of  the  holes  in  the  earth 
made  by  the  other  jumper,  he  buried  both  his  spurs  in  his  steed's  belly  and  up 
it  went  in  the  air.  At  the  moment,  a  white  sun-scarf,  tied  to  the  end  of  an 
escopette's  ramrod,  was  floated  in  the  up-rising  and  on-coming  leaper's  face. 

The  beast  started,  swerved,  and,  unable  to  prevent  its  spring,  took  the  wall 
sideways  and,  as  a  natural  result,  kicked  a  couple  of  the  rude  bricks  before  its 
feet. 

It  all  but  fell,  but  the  master  had  already  slung  one  leg  over  its  lowered  head 
and  dropped  to  the  ground. 

Everybody  was  laughing,  as  he  turned  round  indignantly,  and  Camplido's 
throat  was  not  the  one  that  made  the  least  noise. 

Suddenly  he  lifted  the  be-scarfed  rod  which  he  still  held,  to  parry  a  knife- 
thrust  which  was  dealt  at  him.  It  was  Canales,  one  of  the  grooms. 

He  had  had  the  same  trick  served  on  him  at  his  own  first  entering  the  ser 
vice  and,  though  strongly  suspecting  the  author,  had  never  found  it  out  beyond 
doubt. 

Now  it  was  he  who  sprang  upon  laughing  Camplido. 

But  Joaquin,  leaving  his  quivering  horse  with  a  "  So-hoa  !"  to  him,  rushed 
forward  in  time  to  knock  up  a  down-stroke  which  would  beyond  doubt  have 
made  the  traitor  pay  with  his  life  for  his  act  of  baseness. 

Joaquin  declared  that  he  alone  would  spill  blood  in  his  own  defence,  if  that 
must  be,  but,  as  it  was,  he  did  not  care  to  have  one  drop  of  such  a  miserable 
life-current  let  out  of  so  worthless  a  man. 

He  mounted  his  horse  slowly,  to  give  Camplido  a  chance  to  show  what  little 
courage  he  might  have,  but  there  was  no  movement  on  the  hitter's  part. 

Then,  smiling  scornfully,  he  leaped  his  horse  quietly  over  the  wall,  clean  this 
time,  and  rode  out  of  the  court-yard  gate,  never  to  enter  it  again. 

WJien  returned  to  his  own  country,  he  was  determined  to  cast  aside  all  his 
ambitious  desires  and  live  happily  and  placidly  in  the  charming  hot  sunshine 
of  Sonora. 

Nevertheless,  in  the  month  of  January,  1848,  Joaquin  did  leave  the  province 
and  went  to  San  Francisco,  in  quest  of  a  brother  of  his  named  Carlos,  who— 
since  sometime  residing  in  Upper  California — had  obtained  from  one  of  the  dis 
trict  governors,  a  piece  of  land  of  four  square  leagues. 

Joaquin  in  vain  made  inquiries  ;  he  could'not  even  gain  ^ny  intelligence  of 
him,  and  had  to  return  home.  To  make  up  for  that  supposed  loss,  he  had  not 
long  been  back  than  he  married  a  young  Sonorian  girl,  Carmela  Felix. 

At  the  end  of  a  year's  wedded  life,  he  received  a  letter  from  his  brother,  in 
which  he  was  begged  to  hurry  to  the  Mission  of  San  Jose. 

Carlos  added  that  great  quantities  of  gold  had  been  discovered  in  the  moun 
tains  and  that  if  Joaquin  wanted  to  make  a  fortune,  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  lose 
no  time  in  reaching  the  placers. 

Joaquin  instantly  got  ready  for  the  journey,  but  the  illness  of  his  father  and 
other  family  matters  delayed  his  setting  out  by  some  ten  months. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  7 

Then  he  started,  accompanied  by  his  wife. 

When  he  arrived  at  San  Francisco,  Joaquin  was  so  immensely  astounded  at 
the  change  that  had  taken  place  since  his  former  visit,  that  he  made  up  his  mind 
to  spend  several  days  there  to  see  how  the  new  comers  would  open  their  new 
life. 

So  he  sauntered  around  among  the  shanties  and  tents  and  one  or  two  patent 
take-to-pieces-and-put-together-again  houses,  that  were  run  up  like  card- board 
palaces,  watching  the  ships  being  unloaded  slowly,  for  they  were  dreadfully 
short-handed  and  the  most  monstrous  wages  for  'longshoremen  were  laughed  a* 
by  the  out-at-elbow-and-knee  loungers  even. 

On  the  second  day,  in  one  of  the  gambling-saloons,  already  busy  in  fleecing 
the  floor  idlers,  who  had  made  their  pile  even  that  early,  and  thought  to  risk  a 
few  ounces  Miiile  waiting  for  a  homeward  bound  craft,  Joaquin  met  his  brothei. 

The  latter  nai  the  bad  news  to  tell  him  that,  by  some  flaw  in  his  title,  some 
ol  the  advencurers  had  taken  away  from  him  the  four  leagues  of  granted  land. 

He  was  going  to  the  mines  to  hunt  up  a  witness  of  whom  he  had  need,  after 
which  they  two  would  go  to  Mexico  in  order  to  see  the  giver  of  the  concession 
and  recover  the  property,  if  that  was  possible  at  that  stage  of  disorder.  Joa 
quin  expressed  a  great  desire  to  go  to  the  mines  to  see  about  the  gold. 

Carlos  was  only  too  glad  to  have  him  along  with  him,  but as  he  knew 

something  of  the  roughness  of  the  camp-life  where  all  were  men he  coun 
seled  Joaquin  to'  leave  his  wife  at  the  Dolores  Mission  under  guard  of  an  old 
friend  there  Manuel  Sepulveda. 

The  very  next  day,  the  two  brothers  went  up  to  Sacramento,  where  they 
bought  horses  to  go  to  Hangtown. 

They  found  the  witness  that  Carlos  was  after,  there. 

He  was  a  young  native  Californian  called  Flores. 

He  was  fresh  from  a  miners'  camp  some  distance  off,  which  he  had  left  to 
come  down  to  sell  gold  dust. 

After  supper  at  a  Mexican  eating-house,  Flores  borrowed  Joaquin's  mule  and 
went  out  for  a  stroll  with  Carlos. 

Joaquin,  a  little  out  of  sorts  from  the  journeying  over  roads  so  bad  and  the 
change  of  water  (for  liquor  was  so  valuable  that  the  creeks  supplied  two-thirds  of 
the  contents  of  bottles  of  mezcal  and  aguardiente),  stayed  in  the  house  smoking 
cigarettes,  contemplating  the  grand  invasion  of  Americans  into  this  lately  rich 
domain  of  Mexico. 

He  had  become  acquainted  with  many  of  the  Northerners  during  the  late  war 
and,  full  of  disgust  at  so  often  having  seen  the  imbecility  of  his  fellow  country 
men,  had  preserved  a  most  favorable  impression  of  the  American  character, 
often  regretting  that  he  had  not  been  born  under  the  stars  and  stripes. 

He  contrasted  his  lazy,  cowardly,  treacherous,  lying  countrymen  with  the 
men  of  the  Republic,  so  energetic,  active,  brave,  and  so  filled  with  love  of 
liberty. 

If  it  had  not  been  for  his  little  happy,  peaceful  home  so  picturesquely  em 
bosomed  in  one  of  the  most  charming  vales  of  Sonora,  wrhich  he  little  dreamed 
would  ever  become  part  of  the  Republic,  he  would  have  for  ever  flung  aside  his 
nationality  to  become  in  fact  what  he  was  in  heart,  an  American  Citizen. 

All  of  a  sudden,  Joaquin's  reflections  were  broken  into  by  wild  yells  from 
some  hundreds  of  people  who  were  thronging  the  streets,  if  you  have  a  mind  to 
call  them  that,  and  giving  tongue  in  cries  of: 

"  String  'em  up  !  hang  'em,  hang  'em  !  Rope  'em  quick,  Pete  !  No  Judge 
Lynch  for  the  greasers  caught  in  the  act !" 

Joaquin  sprang  out  of  the  cabin  but  only  in  time  to  behold  two  quivering 
bodies  dangling  almost  touching  one  another  from  the  same  bough  of  a  tree.  It 
was  his  brother  and  Flores. 

A  couple  of  ragged  rascals  who  had  followed  the  two  brothers  from  San 


8  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duvat  of  <Jatifornia) ; 

Francisco,  with  trumped-up  receipts,  had  claimed  the  mules  they  had  been 
riding  and  sworn  that  the  animals  had  been  stolen  from  them. 

Such  was  the  fury  of  the  mob,  (for  of  course,  where  no  law  was  except  the 
unnoticed  Mexican  alcaldes'  which  was  too  easily  tampered  with,  justice  had  to 
be  dealt  by  themselves),  that  the  victims  had  no  chance  to  clear  themselves, 
and  all  their  endeavors  to  put  in  a  word  of  defence  were  drowned  by  the  curses 
and  groans  of  the  crowd.  They  were  pulled  off  their  horses,  a  couple  of  long 
grazing-halters  found  somewhere  flung  over  their  heads  as  they  were  made  to 
stand  on  barrel  heads ;  these  scaffolds  were  kicked  from  under  them,  and  thus 
they  died. 

The  two  false  accusers,  bestriding  the  animals  still  warm  in  reins  and  saddle 
from  the  innocent  and  real  owners,  rode  off  as  quickly  as  possible,  after  treating 
the  crowd  at  the  nearest  rum-hole. 

Struck  with  horror  and  astonishment,  Joaquin  could  do  no  more  at  first  than 
cast  one  glance  on  the  bodies  and  the  dispersing  executioners  to  assure  himself 
that  the  sight  was  undesirably  real ;  then,  bursting  into  tears  and  restraining 
himself  from  giving  way  to  dangerous  weakness,  he  procured  a  mule  and  re 
turned  to  Sacramento,  on  the  way  to  San  Francisco,  and  thence  to  the  Mission, 
where  he  embosomed  himself  of  the  awful  story  to  his  wife.  It  made  her 
shudder  ;  but,  with  the  eagerness  of  woman,  she  conjured  her  husband  not  to 
follow  the  path  vengeance  streaked  out  to  him  with  blood,  but  to  leave  to 
heaven  the  punishment  of  the  villains  sure  sooner  or  later  to  overtake  them. 
She  assured  him  that  all  Americans  were  not,  could  not  be  as  bloodthirsty  as 
the  assassins  of  her  brother-in-law. 

With  all  the  strength  of  her  sincerely  loving  heart,  she  besought  him  not  to 
yield  to  criminal  designs.  Her  tears,  supplications  and  words  of  affection  and 
consolation  worked  a  great  change  in  Joaquin's  intentions,  and  lulled  his  heart 
into  forgetfulness  of  the  misdeed. 

"  So  be  it,"  said  he  kissing  her,  "  I  yield  to  my  good  angel.  All  is  over. 
Let's  forget  and  be  happpy.  As  soon  as  I  shall  have  gathered  a  little  gold,  we 
will  go  home  never  to  leave  it  more." 

A  few  days  afterwards,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  he  reached  the  mines  on  the 
Stanislaus  River,  where  he  put  up  a  cabin  and  began  "  wet  diggings." 

The  district  was  extremely  lively,  agitated  by  a  great  number  of  wretches 
who,  covering  themselves  with  the  cloak  of  being  Americans  "  down  on  yallow 
bellies,  by  G — !"  worked  only  by  fits  and  starts,  patrolling  the  country,  and 
eyeing  the  native  Californians  and  Mexicans  who  did  throw  off  sluggishness 
and  take  to  labor,  with  a  hateful  eye,  while  regarding  them  as  a  conquered 
race,  good  only  when  others  had  the  whip-hand  of  them. 

This  scum  did  all  they  could  to  fan  the  flames  of  prejudice  of  color  and  the 
innate  antipathy  of  such  opposite  races. 

One  day,  a  gang  of  such  loafing  desperadoes,  having  been  thrashed  soundly 
by  an  allied  party  of  Americans  and  Englishmen  forming  the  "  United  E 
Pluribus  Dieu  et  mon  Unum  Droit  Mining  Company,"  and  smarting  to  fine 
somebody  to  be  revenged  on,  came  across  solitary  Joaquin  and  coolly  ordered 
him  to  clear  from  his  claim,  as  they  had  made  up  their  mind  never  to  let  a  man 
of  his  skin  scrape  gold  in  that  region. 

As  a  show  of  his  papers  did  no  good,  and  his  string  of  oaths  more  harm,  he 
told  the  shouting  band  plump  that  he'd  see  every  man  Jack  of  'em  at  the 
bottom  of  a  Nevadan  ravine  with  a  ten-foot  sand-drift  covering  them,  before  he'd 
let  a  spade  or  a  pick  that  had  no  business  there  break  earth  on  his  ground. 

Weapons  flashed  out,  thereupon.  There  was  a  scuffle.  The  poor  wife 
rushed  out,  handsome  in  her  terror  and  grief,  to  behold  her  husband  senseless 
on  the  ground  from  a  hail  of  blows  from  pistol-butts.  The  miscreants  seized 
her.  When  Joaquin  came  to  life  at  the  dusk,  Carmela  was  more  than  dead, 
dishonored ! 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines. 


CHAPTERII. 

THE     STOLEN     HORSE. THE     FIRST     BLOOD. THE    BAND    IS    FORMED. MURDER    OF 

SHERIFF    CLARK. YUBA    ON    THE    TRAIL. 

IMAGINE  the  feelings  of  the  unfortunate  Joaquin. 

Naturally,  vengeance  sent  }jis  blood  up  to  boiling  heat,  but  he  had  enough 
coolness  left  to  know  that  he  could  not  single-handed  quench  his  thirst  for  re 
prisal  :  that  would  be  risking  life  and  liberty  for  one  or  two  deaths  alone.  He 
forced  himself  to  wait  and  grin  and  bear  it  all  until  some  chance  should  aid  him 
to  carry  out  his  ideas. 

In  April,  1850,  he  went  into  Calaveras  County  and  tried  his  hand  at  Mur 
phy's  Diggings ;  but,  seeing  that  he  was  not  of  the  temperament  that  a  good 
gold-hunter  must  be,  he  gave  up  the  wash-bowl  and  rocker  and  took  to  the  less 
honest  and  far  less  honorable  monte  table. 

Mexicans  do  not  consider  that  so  very  disgraceful,  however,  as  we  may  as 
well  say.  At  first  blush,  fortune  more  than  smiled,  laughed  on  him  and  began 
to  make  the  gold  coins  roll  over  decks  of  cards  into  the  folds  of  his  sash  and  the 
pockets  of  his  inner  calzoneras,  while  his  hat's  lining  was  not  innocent  of  some 
Bank  of  England  notes  that  he  had  bought  as  more  convenient  than  the  solid 
stuff,  in  spite  of  the  chant  he  heard  so  frequently  in  the  saloons,  the  classical 
"  Shove  her  up,  shove  her  up  to  the  bolt,  I'd  rather  have  an  ounce  than  a 
twenty-dollar  note,  for  the  slug  it  will  sink  and  the  flimsy  '11  float,  so  I'd  rather 
have,"  etc. 

But,  after  going  down  the  hill  gaily,  he  had  to  go  up  toilsomely  and  had  to 
lighten  his  load.  If  he  had  dropped  his  gains  into  the  melting  pot,  he  could 
hardly  have  had  them  more  speedily  melted  away. 

He  rolled  into  the  depths  of  the  gulf  of  crime. 

One  day,  he  had  been  visiting  a  friend  out  of  town,  so  to  say,  and  had  re 
turned  riding  a  horse  which  Valenzuela  his  friend  had  loaned  him.  Just  as  he 
entered  the  encampment-village  of  Murphy's  Diggings,  somebody  raised  a 
hullabaloo,  a  crowd  surrounded  him  and  stopped  him. 

"  Hoss-thief  !"  cried  Westerner.  "  I  swan  if  'taint  my  maire  Kezi'ah,  if  'tis 
shaved  pesky  close  and  the  fly-brush  docked,"  yelled  a  Yankep.  "  Give  the  fel 
low  a  hearing,"  said  a  Pennsylvanian.  "  Give  the  beggar  a  jolly  good  hiding," 
roared  an  Englishman.  "  Smother  him,  the  bastely  Mixican,"  said  a  Patlander 
louder  than  all. 

Everybody  knew  the  animal,  and  all  Joaquin  could  do  was  swear  that  he  had 
only  borrowed  it,  and  that  no  doubt  Valenzuela  had  innocently  come  into  pos 
session.  Half  the  crowd,  with  the  Westerner  on  his  recovered  horse,  sped 
away  to  confront  Valenzuela.  The  rest,  after  listening  for  a  few  moments  to 
*  the  asseverations  of  Joaquin,  were  going  to  let  him  off  with  threats  alone,  when 
several,  who  had  seen  him  idling  about  and  only  busy  when  cards  in  hand,  in 
sisted  on  giving  him  a  round  dozen  lashes  as  a  slight  warning  for  him  to  quit 
those  diggings. 

So  they  tied  up  the  luckless  young  man  to  a  tree,  and  an  English  sailor,  who 
knew  something  of  cats,  rigged  up  a  whip  from  an  old  hairless  buffalo  robe,  and 
inflicted  the  whipping.  They  let  the  flogged  Sonorian  go,  then.  It  was  lucky 
for  him,  for  the  others  returned  before  long  from  Valenzuela's  shanty.  He  had 
been  unable  to  satisfy  them,  and  they  had  run  him  up  to  the  lowermost  branch 
of  a  cedar,  and  had  hurried  back  to  give  his  supposed  accomplice  a  similar 
necklace. 

Joaquin's  passionate  spirit  underwent  a  fearful  change  never  to  be  altered 


10  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

afterwards.  Any  barrier  whatever  lost  power  over  his  raging  heart.  He 
took  an  oath  only  to  live  thenceforth  for  revenge  and  to  mark  his  steps  in 
blood.  He  could  not  discriminate  in  his  general  scheme,  and  included  all  the 
Saxons  in  his  doom-roll. 

Not  very  long  afterwards  the  stout  Englishman,  who  had  proposed  the  "  jolly 
hiding,"  was  leisurely  strolling  into  the  thinned  out  woods,  on  a  fine  evening. 

As  he  descended  into  the  ravine  crossing  the  narrow  path,  he  found  himself 
unexpectedly  face  to  face  with  Joaquin,  whom  he  could  not  help  remembering, 
The  eyes  of  the  sallow  youth  flashed  like  a  tawny  tiger's,  and  a  shudder  made 
his  whole  frame  vibrate. 

The  Briton  was  fascinated  for  the  moment,  but,  noting  the  trembling  of  the 
other,  he  set  it  down  to  the  fear  the  latter  might  have  of  being  captured  again. 

"  I  ain't  a-goin'  to  tetch  yer,  friend  Spaniard,"  said  he,  and  he  pushed  on  to 
pass  him,  almost  unconcernedly. 

Joaquin,  side  by  side  with  him,  did  draw  aloof  from  the  path  as  though  to 
give  him  passage,  but  it  was  really  to  have  a  fair  sweeping  stab  at  the  man's 
side. 

"  Oh  !"  and  the  stout  fellow  reeled  and  clapped  one  hand  to  his  breast,  while 
the  other  felt  in  his  belt. 

"  Die  !  die  !"  yelled  Joaquin,  foaming  at  the  mouth  and  tearing  away  at  his 
victim  with  his  left  hand,  while  his  right  brought  down  the  dagger  again  and 
again  till  the  victim  was  borne  to  the  ground. 

"  What've  I  done  to  you,  you  butcher  1"  muttered  the  dying  man.  "  Mercy 
spare !" 

"  Did  you  spare  me,"  returned  Joaquin,  pressing  at  the  gasping  throat  and 
•winding  himself  round  the  other's  sturdier  form  like  a  liana  round  a  tamarack, 
or  a  snake  round  a  stung  prairie  dog ;  "  did  you  spare  me  when  you  wanted  them 
to  whip  me  like  a  hoi'se,  when  you  had  a  whole  crowd  to  back  you  against  me, 
one  innocent  man  ?  Was  you  full  of  mercy  then  ?  I  didn't  see  you  telling 
them  to  lay  on  the  lashes  more  lightly,  or  to  be  short  in  the  number  prescribed  ! 
No,  by  our  Lady  of  Suffering,  my  brother  and  my  wife  are  dead  through  just 
such  devils  as  you,  and  I'll  out-devil  ye,  by  G —  !  You've  set  me  a-iirc  by  call 
ing  to  mind  my  Carmela  !  (stab  !)  my  brother  !  (stab  !)  Die,  die  !  wretch  !" 

Mad,  Joaquin  kept  on  perforating  and  hacking  the  temple,  out  of  which  by 
too  many  entries  already  the  soul  had  fled,  and  he  only  stopped  at  last  when 
his  soaked  sleeve,  and  streaming  knife  wet  his  painted  and  tired  hand. 

"There,  that  begins  my  work  of  death,"  said  he,  getting  up  from  the  pool  of 
blood  in  which  the  murdered  man  almost  floated. 

Joaquiri's  teeth  chattered  convulsively,  his  body  was  drawn  up  to  its  full 
height,  and  he  swept  with  fired  eye  the  beautiful  azure  dome  of  the  Californian 
sky.  His  clenched,  stained  hand  still  brandished  the  clotted  blade. 

"  Number  one  of  the  doomed  at  my  feet !"  cried  he.  "  Now  that  I've  had  a 
taste  of  the  feast,  I'll  keep  at  it  till  I  clear  the  table  !  Oh,  dearly-loved  Carme 
la,  if  your  pure,  too-soon  fled  spirit  seeks  revenge,  watch  over  me  and  protect 
me  in  your  battles  as  much  as  mine.  Carlos,  brother,  poor,  dead  brother,  put 
your  strengh  in  my  arm  !" 

Next  morning,  the  first  party  out  after  firewood  found  the  corpse,  which, 
although  so  horribly  mangled,  was  recognised. 

As  he  had  been  so  prominent  in  the  chastisement  of  the  supposed  partner  in 
the  horse-theft,  was  a  good  enough  fellow  otherwise,  and  did  not  seem  to  have 
been  robbed,  the  crime  was  attributed  to  the  true  author,  which  fact  did  not 
much  encourage  an  idea  of  the  Mexicans  not  being  of  an  assassinating  turn  ot 
mind. 

A  little  later,  a  doctor,  who  was  coming  to  Murphy's  with  "  Salvator's  Spe 
cific  for  spasmodic  fevers,"  and  other  quick  remedies,  galloped  in  among  the 
workmen  to  the  music  of  gasps  for  help,  a  clatter  of  broken  bottles  and  the 


Or.   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  11 

neighing  of  his  mare,  on  whose  flanks  the  camphene,  spirits  and  gums  of  the 
let-out  medicines  had  streamed,  soaking  through  the  saddle-bags. 

He  had  met  a  couple  of  Mexicans  on  horseback,  who  had  no  sooner  exchanged 
a  "  Buena  tarde  !"  with  him  than  they  drew  pistols  and  blazed  away.  His  nag 
had  an  ear  tipped,  and  he  received  a  bullet  through  his  tall  felt  hat ;  he  was 
saved  by  a  small  inch. 

Pie  had  not,  as  might  be  expected,  taken  a  daguerreotype  (photographs  were 
unknown)  of  the  marksmen,  but  he  had 'remarked  enough  of  the  better  shot  of 
the  two  for  him  to  be  proclaimed,  on  that  description,  to  be  the  Englishman's 
murderer,  Joaquin. 

There  was  a  general  excitement  among  the  set  who  had  been  chiefs  of  the 
torturers  of  the  Sonorian,  and  some  of  them  felt  such  dread  creep  over  them  and 
weigh  upon  them  that  they  were  noticed  to  be  always  with  friends  and  not  apt 
to  pass  the  last  tent  of  the  encampment. 

Those  that  did  not  care  went  and  came  as  ever,  but,  somehow  or  other,  a 
mysterious  unavoidable  fate  hung  over  them  and  hardly  were  they  out  of  sight 
and  earshot  of  help,  then  death  fell  sharp  and  unerring  upon  them. 

Consternation  began  to  spread.  Every  new  arrival  had  a  report  to  make  of 
a  dead  body  or  two  having  been  encountered  on  the  road, "  knifed  or  bulletted," 
and  it  was  always  found  that  the  victims  were  those  who  had  had  something  to 
do  with  the  whipping  of  Joaquin, 

Judge  Lynch  called  together  a  court,  and  the  Sonorian  was  outlawed,  and 
compelled  to  find  security  only  in  flight  or  in  a  continuance  of  his  murderous 
career. 

As  he  could  not  well  accomplish  his  black  plans  without  money  and  horses, 
he  had  to  add  theft  to  his  other  crime.  Thus  was  he  a  highwayman  before  he 
was  twenty. 

So,  in  1851,  the  band  of  robbers  that  ravaged  the  country  was  well  known  to 
be  commanded  by  Joaquin. 

Prospecting  parties  and  others  changing  from  mine  to  mine  were  rarely  so 
strong  as  not  to  be  stopped  on  the  way  and  made  to  deliver. 

The  returners  from  the  diggings  were  eased  of  their  hard-earned  treasure  and 
considered  themselves  lucky  if  they  were  let  go  back  to  resume  work,  half 
stripped  and  with  nothing  to  pledge  to  procure  tools. 

Most  of  the  lonely  travelers,  and  especially  Johnny  Newcomes  who  were  not 
up  to  the  new  life,  were  torn  from  their  saddles  by  lariats  and  pulled  into  the 
brush  to  be  "  stuck"  and  rifled  at  leisure. 

Horses  vanished  from  the  ranches,  of  which  not  a  few  were  burnt,  and  King, 
Queen  or  President  Pillage  (just  as  you  like)  began  to  act  as  if  he,  or  she,  ruled 
the  Golden  State. 

Joaquin's  intelligence  and  superior  education,  very  naturally,  had  almost  in 
stantly  won  for  him  respect  from  his  comrades.  He  cunningly  made  an  appeal 
to  the  rankling  against  the  "  Yankees,"  as  the  stupid  Mexicans  styled  all  the 
fair  complexioned  and  States'  people,  whether  from  Red  River  of  the  North,  the 
Rio  Grande,  the  Merrimac,  the  Hudson  or  all  along  the  Ohio,  the  Mississippi 
and  the  shore  of  the  Great  Lakes. 

The  disastrous  result  of  the  Texan  War  had  been  very  peppery  dish  for  them 
to  digest,  and,  by  the  call  of  Joaquin,  he  collected  many  fellow  countrymen, 
respectable  in  numbers  if  in  nothing  else.  His  undreamt-of  successes  recruited 
his  ranks  day  after  day,  till  his  slight  form  had  a  train  to  it  like  a  slave  clipper 
followed  by  sharks. 

Among  his  followers,  was  to  be  remarked  a  young  stripling  of  the  name  of 
Reynardo  Felix,  own  brother  to  Joaquin's  wife,  who  burned  like  his  near  kins 
man  to  avenge  her  dreadful  death,  lie  was  one  of  the  lieutenants,  and  got  his 
name  up  by  his  repeated  exploits  at  the  head  of  a  troop,  side  by  side  with  that 


•12  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

of  Three-fingered  Jack,  another  bandit  who  had  come  to  Joaquhrs  standard 
from  sheer  love  of  blood-spilling. 

This  Mexican  "  Obi"  was  more  of  a  fiend  than  a  human  being.  He  was 
known  in  Mexico  as  Manuel  Garcia,  where  he  had  had  one  finger  cut  ofF  in  a 
skirmish  of  guerrillas,  who  had  been  a  little  mistaken  in  an  idea  which  they  had 
had  of  catching  a  detachment  of  Uncle  Sam's  "  blue-bellies"  napping ;  hence  the 
nickname  he  sported  in  El  Dorado. 

It  was  he,  who,  in  '46,  in  company  with  half  a  dozen  other  cutthroats,  fell 
upon  two  Americans  on  the  road  from  Sonora  to  Bodega,  stripped  them  to  the 
skin  and  tortured  them  in  so  many  and  such  ways  that  the  papers  never  dared 
print  all :  slicing  them  with  daggers,  cutting  out  their  tongues  and  eyes,  and 
concluding  by  roasting  their  still  animated,  but  lacerated  bodies,  over  a  slow 
fire  of  green  wood. 

We  may  as  well  name  here,  as  being  satellites  of  Joaquin,  Pedro  Gonzales, 
Luis  Guerra,  Juan  Gardoza  and  Joaquin  Valenzucla,  fearless  fellows — when 
they  outnumbered  the  foe  or  were  cornered,  cunning — but  every  coward's  that, 
hardened  to  fatigue  by  a  life  of  poverty  and  laziness,  ardent  for  vengeance. 

The  last  named  was  brother  to  the  man  who  had  been  hanged  on  the  day  when 
Joaquin  had  been  flogged.  He  had  served  a  good  while  in  Mexico  with  Guerra, 
in  the  guerrillero  band  of  Padre  Jurata,  a  monk  who  had  forgotten  vows  of 
abstinence  and  goodness  made  under  the  crucifix  to  make  money  and  tor 
ture  women  under  the  lancier's  red  flag. 

Gonzalez,  above-mentioned,  whose  principal  qualification  was  a  knowledge 
of  horseflesh — of  which  he  ought  to  have  known  some  trifle,  from  his  having 
stampeded  and  stolen  so  many  of  them — was  charged  to  keep  the  company 
of  cutthroats  always  well  mounted. 

Besides,  he  carried  on  the  befitting  and  courageous  business  of  a  sneaking 
spy  and,  from  whatever  quarter  the  band  thought  of  visiting,  s^nt,  in  an 
exact  report  of  the  state  of  it,  to  procure  which  he  hung  around  Regulators, 
Committees  of  Vigilance,  Eedressors,  Lynchers,  Shirt-tail  Bend  Justices,  as 
closely  as  he  could  without  being  hung  up. 

Joaquin's  command  was  composed  of  no  less  than  five-and-forty  men  then, 
but  every  week  saw  additions  from  Sonora  and  Lower  California,  along  with 
roamers  of  the  Gila,  who  had  found  meddling  with  Bill  Williams's,  Kit 
Carson  and  other  marksmen  whose  pieces  carried  six  to  eight  dead  shots  to  a 
pound,  did  not  "  pay,"  in  this  world,  at  least.  Leading  this  powerful  flock  of 
vultures,  Joaquin,  in  the  course  of  the  year  '51,  rattled  over  the  State,  which 
was  more  gold  than  "  grizzly"  to  him  just  then,  when  the  black  sand  was  "  half 
and  half"  auriferous  dust  in  the  common  bowl,  when  cradles  had  their  receiver 
covered  with  a  quarter  inch  of  pea-size  pepitas,  when  the  veins  made  lucky 
chaps  jump  and  treat  a  crowd  of  thirty  on  the  strength  of  "  opening  so  rich," 
when  "  salting"  claims  to  catch  the  pig-tail  Celestials  hardly  was  tried,  folks 
wrere  selfish  and  let  strangers  be  butchered  and  plundered  within  a  few  miles 
of  them.  Too  many  said  : 

"  The  h —  !  that  bloody  greaser's  killed  another  on  the  Smitty's  Flats  !  Blast 
the  show-no-fights!  let  Joe  Quin,  or  Walk-in,  or  whatever  he's  called,  come  an' 
lay  paw  on  our  waist-belts  an'  I'll  be  dog  gone'd  but  he'll  be  cracked  like  those 
finger-long  fleas  the  Irishman  left  us  in  this  here  shanty  we  bought  o'  him. 
Fetch  him  on  hereaway  !" 

The  numerous  persons  with  whom  the  King  of  Cutthroats  was  on  a  good 
footing  could  not  suspect,  seeing  him  so  frequently  among  them,  that  this 
young  man  had  any  share  in  the  sanguinary  deeds  which  were  past  count  by 
this  time  and  which  affected  a  whole  state.  He  remained  whole  weeks  in  one 
place,  spending  his  time  in  gaming,  utterly  unknown  for  what  he  was.  For 
instance,  in  the  summer  of  1851,  while  he  was  living  in  a  remote  house  in  the 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  13 

town  of  San  Jose,  he  was  arrested  one  night  for  being  concerned  in  a  "  muss" 
happening  at  the  heat  of  a  midnight  fandango. 

The  magistrate,  before  whom  they  were  all  brought,  sentenced  him  to  a  fine 
of  twelve  dollars.  Joaquin  desired  Sheriff  Clark,  in  whose  charge  he  was 
placed,  to  come  along  with  him  to  his  dwelling,  where  he  would  count  out  the 
sum  and  a  little  more  for  the  trouble  he  had  caused.  They  went  side  by  side, 
chatting  gaily,  but,  as  soon  as  they  came  to  a  spot  that  offered  concealment, 
Joaquin  whipped  out  his  knife,  quickly  told  Clark  that  he  had  only  led  him 
there  to  slay  him,  and  gave  him  a  death-wound  before  the  Sheriff  could  draw 
the  Derringer  on  which  he  had  already  laid  his  hand.  Mr.  Clark  had  made 
himself  hated  as  well  as  feared  by  the  highwaymen  from  the  careful  watch 
which  he  had  kept  over  their  attempts  in  his  district  and  as  he  had  come  several 
times  unpleasantly  near  to  arresting  some  of  them,  their  leader  had  thus  taken 
advantage  of  his  opportunity  to  clear  the  stream  of  that  top-sawyer. 

Some  months  thereafter,  Joaquin  settled  for  the  time  being  near  that  bunch 
ing  of  tents  and  huts  known  under  the  Sonorous  title  of  Sonorian  Camping- 
ground,  three  or  four  miles  out  from  Marysville. 

Pretty  soon,  everybody  began  to  talk  of  murders,  as  frequent  as  diabolical. 
From  the  seventh  to  the  twelfth  of  November,  1851,  in  a  stretch  of  land  not 
more  than  a  dozen  miles  each  way,  there  Were  no  less  than  eleven  persons 
found  slaughtered  by  the  mysterious  troop : 

The  stout  hearts  of  Marysville,  as  generous  to  avenge  as  brave  to  act,  deter 
mined  not  to  let  the  crimes  drop  to  the  ground  as  had  been  done  in  other 
places. 

A  company  was  formed  to  run  down  and  hand  over  to  justice  those  who  shed 
so  much  guiltless  blood. 

Poor  fellows  !  brave-hearted  men  who  had  left  happy  homes  to  seek  a  fortune 
for  loved  wife  and  children,  to  be  slain  at  the  threshold  of  the  riches  which 
their  strong  arms,  nerved  with  honest  desire,  affection  and  industry,  would 
have  surely  given  them  ! 

The  avengers  thought for  this  struck  home  to  them of  women  waiting, 

waiting  for  letters  that  never  came,  for  husbands,  brothers,  sons  that  never 
came.  Next  steamer,  sure  !  No  1  then,  next  ship  that  comes  round  the  Horn. 
No  ?  Then,  he's  crossing  the  plains,  no  roads,  Indians,  something's  delayed 
him.  Oh,  he's  sure  to  come  !  he  must  come  ! 

Poor  hopeful  ones  !  )  ou  are  surer  to  meet  him,  than  he  you.  There's  a  bit 
of  plank  mouldering  away  in  the  bank  of  a  golden  sandy  stream,  there's  a  big 
stone  on  this  hillock's  side,  a  heap  of  pebbles  on  that  road ;  nicknames  scrawled 
affectionately  if  rudely  by  loving  "  mates"  who  laid  aside  tools  to  take  the  red 
chalk  in.  horny  fingers,  are  all  those  poor  gravestones  bear,  and  no  one 
knows,  though  they  may  guess,  that  for  little  "  Pet  Pete"  a  heart  broke  slowly 
and  sadly  in  the  East ;  that  for  "  Georgia  Ned"  the  Etowah  River  bore  a  self- 
drowned  darling  of  a  brunette  on  the  way  to  the  Coosa  and  the  Gulf,  if  the  gar 
fish,  had  not  attacked  it  and  canoemen  recovered  it  to  sadden  a  whole  planta 
tion  with ;  that  for  this,  that  or  the  other  unknown,  she  with  the  golden  hair 
wasted  away  in  that  city,  she  with  the  black  curls  is  a  widow  unmarried,  she 
with  the  brown  tresses  is  grey  before  thirty. 

Enough  that  the  Kedressors  felt  this  far  better  than  we  can  say,  and  were 
untiring  of  foot. 

After  many  day's  researches,  they  only  found,  not  far  from  the  muddy  ripple 
of  the  creek,  six  men,  dead,  with  that  livid  circle  round  the  neck  and  horridly 
distorted  features  which  betrayed  the  lasso. 

The  whole  of  Yuba  County  was  overrun,  and  yet  not  trace  was  found  of  the 
murderers.  The  party  returned  to  Marysville,  disbanding  with  regret. 

But,  the  very  next  day,  news  spread  that  several  persons  had  been  killed  and 
despoiled  near  Bidwell's  Bar,  whereupon  the  excitement  grew  greater. 


14  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

Few  dared  to  travel. 

Suspicions  began  to  settle  towards  the  Camp  of  the  Sonorians,  exclusively 
occupied  by  Mexicans  as  it  was,  for — •  —without  much  striking  with  picks  or 

dabbling  in  the  river's  sands a  great  number  of  them  possessed  steeds  of 

value,  magnificent  serapes  or  blankets,  costly  Panamas,  plenty  of  jewelry  and 
gold  in  large  qua  ntities. 

Buchanan,  Sheriff  of  Yuba  County,  set  out  on  one  beautiful  moonlight  night, 
with  Ike  Bowen,  to  have  an  inspection  of  the  place,  and  to  arrest  three  very 
suspicious  fellows  who  were  known  to  be  in  that  neighborhood. 

But,  as  they  were  getting  over  a  stockade,  four  Mexicans  sprang  upon  them 
unawares  and  the  Sheriff  fell  to  the  ground  seriously  wounded  with  a  pistol 
bullet  through  the  body. 

The  Mexicans  took  to  flight  at  the  charge  of  Ike,  who  turned  and  attacked 
them  single-handed.  Buchanan,  carried  back  to  Marysville  by  his  companion, 
was  a  long  time  in  danger,  but  eventually  recovered.  The  consequence  of  this 
affair  was  that  the  ravagers  did  not  'stay  any  longer  in  those  parts. 

They  stole  off  to  the  western  side  of  Mount  Shasta,  where  they  kept  secluded 
for  several  months,  only  going  down  into  the  valleys  at  rare  intervals  to  steal 
horses.  Few  miners  passed  through  that  retired  region,  but,  nevertheless, 
there  were  found  more  than  one  bleached  skeleton  of  human  beings. 

Some  bore  no  trace  of  how  they  had  been  put  to  death,  but  the  splintered 
holes  and  the  dislocated  vertebal  of  others  revealed  the  secret  work  of  lasso 
and  bullet. 


CHAPTER   III. 

TRIP    INTO     SONORA. CARMELA's     SUCCESSOR. IN     THE    OLD     NEST    AGAIN. DEFI 
ANCE     IN     THE    HELL. 

As  the  first  days  of  the  spring  of '52  came  on,  Joaquin  and  his  band  descend 
ed  from  the  highlands,  with  nearly  three  hundred  horses  stolen  during  the  rainy 
season.  Taking  care  only  to  travel  by  night,  they  led  this  drove  through  the 
southern  part  of  the  state  into  the  province  of  Sonora.  On  their  return  after 
a  few  weeks,  the  depredators  pitched  their  head-quarters  in  the  magnificent 
country  of  richest  pastures,  known  as  Arroyo  Cantuva. 

It  was  a  vale  of  seven  or  eight  thousand  acres  in  extent,  well  watered  and  en 
closed  all  around  by  a  belt  of  mountains,  which  had  no  other  gap  than  one, 
where  the  plunderers  could  hold  an  army  at  check.  This  fertile  hollow  is  situ 
ated  between  the  passes  of  Pacheco  and  Tejon,  east  of  the  main  range  and  west 
of  Tulan  Lake. 

Wholly  hidden  by  the  pile  of  rock,  it  formed  a  refuge  all  the  more  sure  from 
no  dwelling  being  within  fifty  leagues. 

Game  abounded  there :  the«£rizzly  often  clattered  with  his  long  claws  over 
the  granite,  deer,  antelopes,  big-horns,  mountain  sheep,  the  pretty  plumed  Cali 
fornia  quails,  wood-cock,  and  a  whole  series  of  lesser  animals  seemingly  put 
there  for  the  food  of  man.  Hence,  as  far  as  eating  went,  theives  had  a  good 
time  of  it. 

Under  the  speading  foliage  of  a  clump  of  evergreens,  the  young  chief  fixed 
his  cabin. 

More  than  once,  he  was  to  be  seen,  in  the  cool  of  a  fine  day,  reclining  on  the 
carpet  of  verdant  sward  which  Nature  had  smoothly  laid  over  the  floor  of  that 
Eden ;  by  his  side  was  a  young  woman,  fair  and  affectionate,  of  whom  he  had 
made  the  conquest  in  his  late  visit  to  Sonora. 

Clarina,  for  that  was  her  name,  was  the  daughter  of  Don  Sebastian  Vallero,  a 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  15 

grandee  of  Spain  who  after  having  empoverished  himself  through  his  excessive 
prodigality,  had  withdrawn  to  Mexico  with  the  modest  remnant  of  his  fortune, 
where  he  had  purchased  a  piece  of  ground  quite  near  the  rancho  of  Joaquin's 
father. 

The  first  time  that  the  girl  was  led  into  contact  with  the  youth,  though  he 

was  but  fifteen  and  she  ten  then,  she  could  not  help  admiring for  the  girls 

are  women  very  early  under  30  degrees  north  latitude the  graceful  figure 

and  alluring  face  of  Joaquin,  as  well  as  the  ease  and  elegance  with  which  he 
managed  his  half-wild  horse  ;  everytime  that  they  met,  she  could  not  help  gaz 
ing  on  him  in  passion  akin  to  worship. 

But  the  youth's  large  blue  eyes  only  answered  with  an  indifferent  glance  a 
shade  mocking,  and  the  bright  red  flush  of  his  cheeks  did  not  have  so  pure  a 
cause  as  the  gentle  but  deep  blush  that  suffused  her  features. 

The  poor  little  romantic  thing  had  felt  her  heart  leap  often  and  often  again 
while  reading  the  old  tales  of  the  knight  errants  ;  and  her  governess  had  only 
fed  her  poetical  learning  by  teaching  her  many  of  the  favorite  ballads  an  I 
legends  of  antique  Spain. 

A  couple  that  were  all  the  time  rising  to  her  lips  in  her  perfumed  breath 
were: 

"  While  his  hand  lightly  struck  the  mandoline, 

Came  singing  so  joyful  the  troubadour; 
'Spared  from  Saracen's  blades  in  Palestine 
1  turn  to  iny  love  like  hawk  to  the  lure.' ' 

"  At  the  door  of  her  grand  house 

Stood  the  gentle  damosel, 
Spying  with  her  great  black  eyes 

The  youths  who  loved  her  so  well." 

When  she  watched  every  morning  the  departure  of  Joaquin  and  his  fellows 
nothing  was  easier  for  Clarina  to  imagine  than  that  the  party  was  one  of  cheva 
liers  going  out  to  battle  ;  but,  on  the  return,  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  fancy 
that  it  was  her  love's  esquire,  that  young  man  who  brought  no  trophies  to  her 
and  was  far  from  coming  to  kneel  at  her  feet.  Grief  and  melancholy  overcame 
her  and  tears  obscured  the  diamond  lustre  of  her  eyes  in  which  they  swam  till 

dropping  from  the  long  lashes,  roses  she  had  gathered for  him  who  never 

held  out  a  finger  for  them fell  to  her  feet  while  her  hand,  empty  of  them, 

rose  to  her  bosom. 

So  she  sorrowed,  unable  to  tell  or  even  hint  at  her  emotion. 

Some  years  later,  as  Joaquin  was  on  the  point  of  quitting  the  paternal  roof 
with  the  woman  of  his  choice  and  was  bidding  farewell  to  his  friends  and  rela 
tions,  Clarina,  her  heart  ready  to  burst  with  sadness,  thrust  a  gold  ring  on 

Joaquin's  finger  and as  he  looked  at  her  startled  and  in  inquiry she, 

like  a  won  an,  ran  away  to  her  room  to  seek  relief  in  prayer  and  tears. 

Joaquin  saw  in  this  jewel  merely  a  mark  of  friendship  intended  for  his  wife 
and  he  hastened  to  hand  it  over  to  her ;  but,  perceiving  that  the  circlet  seemed 
to  be  one  of  those  precious  talismans  to  which  the  Castilian  nobles  attach  such 
value,  Carmela  refused  it  and  begged  her  husband  to  wear  it  for  her  sake. 

"  The  trinket  may  have  some  virtue  unknown  to  us,  and  perhaps  will  be  a 
shield  in  some  hour  of  peril,"  she  said  superstitiously. 

Joaquin  smiled  incredulously,  at  the  time,  but  he  never  gave  over  wearing 
the  asserted  charm  until  the  fatal  hour  preceding  his  death. 

Once,  however,  he  did  forget  it,  and  that  was  the  day  on  which  he  was  so 
shamefully  treated  at  Murphy's  Diggings. 

The  gem  had  been  left  in  his  room  among  other  jewelry  in  a  casket.  Since 
then,  Joaquin,  obeying  the  promptings  of  superstition,  could  not  doubt  that  the 
little  round  had  in  verity  power  to  preserve  him  from  dangers. 

When  Joaquin  went  home,  he  spent  the  first  day  and  the  morning  of  the  next 


16  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duvat  of  California); 

in  visits  to  old  neighbors,  to  whom  he  could  naturally  make  many  rich  presents 
out  of  his  store  of  stolen  goods. 

As  soon  as  the  heat 'of  the  day  was  over,  and  the  exquisite  hours  came  when 
the  feeling  in  the  shade  of  the  woods  can  only  be  expressed  by  the  words  "just 
right,"  Joaquin  strolled  into  the  forest  to  treat  himself  to  the  re-awakening  of 
pleasant  memories. 

He  gazed  enchanted  on  the  endless  clumps  of  different  cactus,  on  the  nopals 
in  blossom,  on  palmettos,  pines,  cedars,  oaks,  dogwoods,  on  pond  lilies,  rushes, 
reeds  and  all  the  varieties  of  grass  befringing  the  waters  of  Capivi  Creek. 

Its  now  rapid  running  current  washed  the  luxuriantly  budded  sides  with  its 
back-waters,  and  reflected  the  taller  trees  in  its  depths.  Myriads  of  birds  most 
brightly  feathered  hovered  overhead,  darted  from  side  to  side,  fluttered  close  to 
the  ground  or  sprang  from  bough  to  bough  in  the  scented  air,  that  mingled  its 
odors  with  the  multitude  of  songs. 

Every  now  and  then,  a  long  fish,  pursued  by  same  chuckle-headed  bristling- 
jawed  enemy  eager  for  dinner,  would  spring  out  of  the  eddy  and  glitter  in  a 
slanting  sunbeam,  silver-white,  golden-yellow  or  steel-blue.  And  sometimes,  a 

hawk  or  eagle though  oftener  the  king-fisher would  give  a  scream  that 

sent  all  the  songsters  scuttling  under  cover,  and,  after  a  sweep  or  two,  drop  like 
a  heaven-shot  dart,  skim  the  ruffled  whirls  and  streaks  and  rise  into  air  once 
more  with  a  luckless  wriggling  plate  of  silver,  hooked  and  nailed  by  the  beak. 
The  wood-peckers  were  at  work  in  the  far-off,  everywhere,  tattooing  trees  to 
come  at  the  grubs. 

Joaquin  felt  gradually  stealing  over  him  a  forgetfulness  of  the  immediately 
past,  but  a  strengthening  of  boyhood's  recollections.  He  pelted  the  screaming 
birds  with  pebbles,  (perhaps  valuable,  for  Sonora  has  wonders  yet  to  unfold), 
listened  enraptured  to  the  warbling  of  others,  snapped  off  a  cluster  of  berries 
here,  sliced  a  fruit  there,  drank  at  a  spring,  leaped  over  stones,  swung  himself 
by  creepers,  and  carried  on  like  a  boy,  in  a  word. 

No  one  would  ever  have  believed  him  a  bandit  chief.  He  had  left  the  stream 
unconsciously,  and  desirous  of  regaining  it,  he  let  himself  yield  to  a  species  of 
fit  of  sprightliness,  and  ran  at  full  speed  down  an  open  hill  upon  the  very  bank. 

He  just  was  able  to  pull  up  short  there  and  not  take  an  unpremeditated  dive, 
when  a  half  suppressed  scream,  as  if  caused  by  the  swish  of  the  pebbles  whioh 
his  feet  had  shot  into  the  ripple,  attracted  his  eyes  to  the  other  side.  It  is  un 
necessary  to  say  that  those  eyes,  thither  drawn,  were  rivetted  there  in  ravish 
ment. 

A  young  girl  had  raised  that  cry  of  surprise.  She  had  been  dressing,  and 
was  half  attired,  on  the  wavelet'*  edge,  when  he  had  made  the  rush  to  the  place. 

So  he  saw  in  disarray,  trembling  but  fascinated  to  the  spot,  a  female  form 
youthful  and  beautiful.  Face,  neck  and  arms  darker  than  the  rest  of  the  fault 
lessly  proportioned  frame,  but  that  of  a  warm,  tempting  tint. 

Fine  and  delicate  features,  magnificent  black  hair  but  not  as  silky  as  it 
might  be,  for  the  sun  seemed  to  have  robbed  it  of  gloss,  eyes  superior  to  In 
dian's  or  Mexican's,  velvelty  in  the  pupil  somehow  or  other  at  the  same  time 
as  liquid,  and  lustrous,  the  pearly  teeth  revealed  from  the  mouth  being  parted 

with  surprise,  most  lithesome  of  forms,  a  child's  feet  and  hands all  more 

than  half  uncovered that's  the  picture  that  appeared  to  Joaquin. 

Only  for  the  briefest  space,  though,  for  the  scream  was  repeated,  and,  catch 
ing  up  the  rest  of  her  apparel,  the  beauty  darted  into  the  wood. 

So  suddenly  was  she  seen,  so  briefly  viewed,  so  abruptly  gone,  that  the  young 
man  almost  doubted  his  vision.  But  the  floating  of  a  scarf  and  some  other 
part  of  attire  dropped  in  the  fugitive's  haste,  were  proofs  of  reality. 

"  By  heaven,  I  must  see  her  again  !"  muttered  Joaquin. 

As  he  spoke,  he  kicked  off  his  riding  boots,  flung  them  over  the  creek, 
wound  his  blanket  round  him  to  shield  his  pistols,  and  such  a  vigorous  spring 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  17 

into  the  water  that  he  cleared  the  line  separating  the  side-tow  from  the  main 
line. 

It  was  hard  swimming  in  the  current,  and  the  delay  it  caused  him  in  reaching 
the  other  shore,  as  well  as  a  coolness  which  the  stream,  running  under  trees 
rather  than  laying  under  the  sun,  possessed,  set  him  thinking  of  the  two  or  three 
splashes  he  heard  round  and  about  him. 

"  It'll  look  well  for  Joaquin  the  Terror  of  the  Miners  to  be  dragged  under  by 
tf  caiman  or  stung  by  a  water-snake !"  muttered  he,  redoubling  his  efforts. 

He  reached  land  presently.  The  black  spots  on  the  surface  that  had  caused 
nim  anxiety  were  only  bits  of  rotten  limbs  tumbled  in  from  trees.  He  ran 
along  breast  deep  into  the  whirls  till  he  recovered  the  objects. 

"Silk  and  first  rate,"  muttered  he  examining  the  scarf;  "no  common  girl, 
then.  I  wonder  who  she  is.  So  lovely — Caramba !  She  didn't  have  her  feet 
covered — poor  little  dear — and  I  think  I'll  find  her  near." 

He  trailed  the  fugitive  for  a  short  ways,  but  lost  the  track. 

"  D —  if  her  steps  ain't  light  as  air,"  he  murmured.  "  I  say,  friend,  young 
lady,  senorita  !  I  am  a  gentleman  won't  hurt  you — here,  here  !" 

But  no  answer  came  to  his  calls.  A  little  chilled  by  the  soaking  he  had  got, 
though  his  pistols  had  not  been  wetted  through  the  blanket,  he,  grumbling  at 
the  vanished  one's  fear  but  reveling  in  remembrance  of  her  beauty,  was  slowly 
tracing  his  route  through  the  underwood  when  a  shriek,  most  intense  and  far- 
reaching,  came  to  his  ears. 

"  The  deuce!  can  some  of  my  rascals  be  on  the  loose  and  met  her  !"  cried  he, 
frowning  and  laying  his  hand  on  his  weapons. 

Like  a  dart,  he  flew  through  thorns  and  creepers.  At  last,  he  saw  the  white 
drapery  of  the  beauty,  who  was  dressed  now.  , 

But,  most  singularly  she  was  not  looking  back  at  him,  although  she  could 
hardly  help  hearing  his  swift  coming. 

She  stood  firm  as  a  statue,  but  quivering  like  a  leaf,  her  limbs  close  together, 
her  body  drawn  back,  one  arm  across  her  bosom  and  the  fingers  half  veiling 
some  awful  thing  from  her  view,  while  the  other  hand  was  put  forward  outside 
of  that  to  repel  the  same  cause  of  dread. 

"  Courage !"  said  Joaquin,  suspecting  the  whole,  and  advancing  less  noisily 
though  no  less  rapidly. 

A  dark  round  line  twisted  into  the  form  of  an  S  with  an  extra  curl  at  the  foot 
of  it  terminating  in  a  wiry  point  and  another  flourish  at  the  top  bearing  a 
head  with  spiteful  beads  of  glaring  eyes  and  a  vibrating  tongue,  rested  itself  on 
a  rotted  plantain  leaf. 

It  eyed  the  girl,  and  she  it. 

At  the  sound  of  the  man's  steps,  the  serpent  moved,  altered  its  S  into  an  up 
side  down  p  (J),  and  was  about  to  disappear. 

A  low  ."  Ah  !"  of  relief  escaped  from  the  girl's  lips. 

"  No,  you  don't !"  cried  Joaquin,  springing  forward. 

The  reptile  slopped  and  turned  its  head  fearlessly  around,  and  darted  out  its 
shiny  red  tongue,  as  much  as  to  say  it  made  no  difference  at  all  whether  it  was 
asked  to  stay  or  was  let  go  on. 

"  No,  no,"  exclaimed  the  girl,  finding  speech,  and  laying  4her  hand  on  Joaquin's 
arm,  "  its  a  moccasin  snake  !" 

But  the  young  man  shook  off  the  gentle  hold,  fell  upon  one  knee  within  two 
yards  of  the  serpent,  and  leveled  the  revolver  which  he  had  drawn.  The  snake 
drew  up  its  folds  calmly,  and  lengthened  its  wavy  tongue  more  and  more. 

Joaquin  saw  what  was  coming,  but  seemed  to  be  too  sure  of  his  triumphing 
to  care  for  that. 

"  Quick !"  the  girl  uttered  in  horror  as  she  saw  the  deadly  animal  move,  but 
her  words  were  drowned  by  a  sharp  report. 

The  moccasin,  received  in  the  very  act  of  springing  by  the  bullet  and  a  line  of 
2 


18  Joaquin,  (the   Claude   Duval  of  California); 

fire  and  smoke  fell  to  the  ground,  the  tail-half  perfect  enough,  but  tho  head  ar/7 
rest  blown  into  pieces  which  blackened  and  spotted  the  leaves  and  ground. 

That  snake  was  harmless  henceforth,  for  the  poison-bag  even  had  been  burst 
to  nothing. 

Now,  the  rescued  girl  was  Clarina. 

Fancy  the  walk  towards  home  of  the  two. 

She  had  remarked,  first  thing,  that  her  ring  was  upon  her  deliverer's  finger, 
and  she  did  not  hesitate  to  jump  at  the  conclusion  that  he  loved  her. 

So  she  confessed  the  state  of  her  heart  at  the  opening  of  their  conversation. 

While  Joaquin  had  been  in  California,  he  had  kept  his  family  informed  of 
most  of  what  happened  to  him  and  his,  so  that  Clarina  was  aware  of  his  wife 
being  dead  and,  moreover,  that  he  had  become  a  notorious  bandit.  But,  not 
withstanding  his  undoubtedly  criminal  career,  Clarina  was  enamoured  of  hm: 
still. 

He,  for  his  part,  had  been  inspired  with  his  glimpse  of  her  bathing,  that  he 
yielded  to  her  influence  and  found  it  no  hard  matter  to  throw  himself  at  her 
knees  and  declare  that  his  first  love  was  only  a  died  away  passion  and  that  this 
time  was  the  first  that  he  knew  what  true  affection  was. 

Hence,  the  two  are  found  by  us,  seated  on  the  moss  and  grass  under  the  trees 
of  Arroyo  Cantuva.  Carmela's  name  was  already  forgotten,  and  all  her  ten 
derness,  faithfulness  and  devotion  were  banished  from  the  robber's  mind. 

After  several  weeks  spent  at  their  headquarters.  Joaquin  divided  his  troops, 
then  composed  of  seventy-five,  into  detatchments,  of  which  he  gave  the  commands 
to  Valenzuela,  Luis  Guerra  and  Three-fingered  Jack,  sending  them  to  fall  upon 
certain  points. 

Their  order  was  to  employ  their  time  solely  in  running  off  horses  and  mules, 
his  attention  being  to  put  into  execution  a  plan  of  his  that  required  from  fifteen 
hundred  to  two  thousand  of  the  cattle. 

He  started  off  himself  in  another  direction,  accompanied  by  Reynardo,  Felix, 
Juan  Cardoza,  and  Pedro  Gonzalez.  Three  women -disguised  as  men  and  well 
armed  like  their  escorts,  formed  part  also  of  this  company  :  the  first  was  Clarina, 
and  the  others  the  respective  mistresses  of  Felix  and  Gonzales.  All  were  ad 
mirably  mounted 

None  except  the  chief  knew  the  aim  of  their  'course. 

On  arriving  at  Mokelumne  Hill,  Calaveras  County,  they  mingled  with  the 
Mexicans  who  dwelt  there,  all  of  whom  were  friendly  as  a  matter  of  course, 
and,  when  they  went  the  rounds  of  the  gaming  hells  or  traveled  the  streets,  it 
was  impossible  to  distinguished  them  from  the  more  honest  inhabitants  of  the 
place.  The  women  re-assumed  the  habiliments  of  their  sex  and  behaved  them 
selves  so  excessively  well  that  they  became  almost  wonders  on  that  account. 
The  men  went  out  on  expeditions  every  little  while  on  their  splendid  horses  and 
always  made  a  long  circuit  before  returning  to  their  rendevous. 

Joaquin  had  the  semblance  of  a  gambler  in  high  feather,  as  his  nocturnal  rov- 
ings  gave  him  the  means  to  appear. 

This  was  April,  1852. 

Meanwhile,  the  other  divisions  were  pursuing  ardently  their  mission  in  the 
different  quarters,  and  Joaquin  found  in  the  papers  (the  humble  parents  of  the 
well-conducted,  enterprising  journals  of  the  present  day)  full  accounts  and 
pleasing  ones  to  him  of  how  ranches  had  been  rid  of  stock  to  a  great  extent. 

Besides,  the  public  sheets  did  not  hesitate  to  lay  the  whole  on  his  shoulders. 

In  the  different  murders  and  thefts  in  which  he  had  taken  a  personal  part,  he 
had  always  appeared  under  disguises,  from  which  it  resulted  that  he  never  less 
resembled  his  masks  than  when  he  was  the  Simon  Pure,  indeed,  a  man  who 
had  a  good  look  at  him  on  the  highway,  would  have  been  unable  to  point  finger 
at  him  in  the  crowd  of  a  town. 

•Often  he  had  mixed  in  with  a  group,  and  overhead  excited  conversations  in 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  19 

which  he  alone  was  talked  of,  many  a  secret  laugh  he  enjoyed  at  the  suppositions 
he  caught  of  his  appearance,  manner  of  living  and  designs. 

After  having  given  as  much  time  to  Mokelumne  Hill  as  he  had  intended, 
preparations  were  made  to  leave  it  on  the  first  of  May. 

About  midnight — while  the  horses  were  being  got  ready,  and  the  women  put 
on  men's  clothes,  and  the  rest  of  the  arrangements  being  completed — Joaquin 
made  a  farewell  trip  into  the  gambling  dens  and  drinking-housee,  which  were 
only  too  plenty  in  the  rough  "  days  of  the  discovery." 

He  was  taking  his  ease  at  a  monte  table,  on  which  he  had  carelessly  cast  a 
small  sum  to  kill  time  when  all  of  a  sudden  his  attention  was  attracted  from  the 
painted  paste-board  to  a  corner,  where  he  heard  his  name  pronounced  distinctly. 
His  gaze  stopped  on  four  or  five  men  who  were  warmly,  but  in  a  low  tone,  dis- 
cusing  the  doings  of  the  Miners'  murderer. 

There  was  one  of  them,  a  tall,  well-built  fellow,  a  dagger-knife  and  a  revolver 
of  the  newest  style  in  his  belt,  his  trousers  stuffed  into  huge  cow-hide  boots  that 
seemed  to  tell  of  the  overland  route,  who  was  perhaps  the  loudest-voiced. 

"  Look  a-here  boys,"  said  he,  "  you  all  know  me  as  Jack  Gabriel,  and  they 
all  know  me  up  an'  down  both  banks  of  the  Washita  from  the  Lousian'  border- 
up.  I'm  good  for  three  ounces,  ain't  I?  O'  course,  I  am.  Well,  I'll  down  with 

that  dust  to  any  one  as  '11  set  me  face  to  face  with  this , , , 

(oaths)  Joaquin  !" 

As  the  words  were  uttered,  the  audacious  outlaw  jumped  up  on  the  table 
sending  the  different  leaves  of  the  "  devil's  prayer-book"  on  the  tobacco'd  floor 
a  leetle  promiscuously,  and  the  money  along  with  it,  for  which  half  a  dozen 
heads  instantly  bobbed  down — threw  his  breast  open  by  drawing  aside  his 
vest,  held  a  capped  revolver,  with  the  hammer  set,  in  his  right  hand  and  shouted: 

"  Keep  the  stand  !  I  am  Joaquin  !     Fire  if  you  dare  !" 

Notwithstanding  the  defiance,  the  young  adventurer  was  not  such  a  fool  as 
not  to  take  advantage  of  the  general  confusion  that  prevailed  for  the  moment. 

He  pulled  his  sarape  round  him  quickly,  took  a  grand  flying  leap  from  the 
table — which  was  smashed  under  the  on-coming  boots  of  Arkansas  Jack — and, 
slipping  through  the  door,  jumped  upon  his  horse.  There  was  some  delay 
given  his  followers  from  their  own  haste  jamming  them  in  the  doorway,  and 
all  they  could  do  was  jerk  up  their  hands  and  try  a  salute  of  snap  shots  at  the 
gallopers,  but  he  had  the  luck  to  escape  a  single  scratch  and  the  only  satisfac 
tion  that  his  enemies  received  in  exchange  for  their  wasted  "  Dupont's  superfine 
granulated,"  was  a  yell  of  defiance  shrill  and  prolonged  that  echoed  in  the  night 
air. 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE    WAGONER    GOES    UNDER. A    MEETING    WITH     BILL    MILLER. HARRY    LOVE    ON 

THE    WAR  PATH. THE    "  TEJON     INJINs"    CUT     UP    ROUGH. 

ON  gaining  the  trysting-place  at  Arroyo  Cantuva,  Joaquin  found  between 
three  and  four  hundred  horses  driven  in  by  his  men.  The  latter  were  encamp 
ed  and  waiting  for  fresh  instructions.  The  Chief  of  the  Coyotes  selected  a  part 
to  drive  the  captures  into  Sonora  for  the  greater  safety,  and  at  the  same  time 
had  sent  one  of  his  secret  bankers  in  the  same  place  five  thousand  dollars. 

About  the  end  of  the  month,  idleness  began  to  grow  heavy  upon  him,  and 
he  could  bear  inaction  no  longer.  He  took  to  the  highway  again,  still  ac 
companied  by  Gonzales,  Felix,  Cardoza  and  the  three  young  women,  who 
formed,  as  they  bestrode  their  steeds  with  limbs  perhaps  too  plump  and  shapely, 
the  prettiest  trio  of  cavaliers  that  ever  cantered  into  a  maid's  heart. 


20  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

For  the  first  ten  days,  the  gang  met  no  persons  except  unlucKy  diggers 
changing  off  from  one  mine  to  another,  who  were  to  a  man  to  be  smelt  of 
poverty  a  mile  off,  they  were  so  redolent  of  lack  of  cash.  Hence  Joaquin's 
purse  remained  in  so  flat  a  shape  that  he  determined  to  fall  upon  the  first  man, 
Chinaman  or  Jew,  ex-soldier  or  ex-sailor,  miner  or  speculator,  or  even  a  robber, 
for  the  wolf  was  so  famished  that  it  was  ready  to  bite  wolf. 

Towards  dusk,  a  young  man,  Allan  Ruddell,  made  his  appearance,  driving  a 
wagon-load  of  provisions.  Joaquin  left  his  friends,  put  his  horse  to  the  gallop 
and,  taking  a  short  cut,  came  upon  the  teamster  suddenly. 

"  I'll  trouble  you  to  turn  over  to  me  all  the  cash  you've  got  about  you,"  ac- 
(jested  he. 

Ruddell  took  a  squint  at  the  challenger  and,  seeing  a  young^  blade  who  seem 
ed  to  be  only  a  novice  at  the  worthy  calling  of  Dick  Turpin,  Claude  Duval  and 
Sixteen-stringed  Jack  and,  in  America,  Mike  Martin,  he  smiled  to  himself  and 
"  took  a  fly  off"  the  rump  of  one  of  his  horses  with  his  heavy  rawhide-whip. 
Joaquin  pushed  forward  along  side  of  him  and,  drawing  his  revolver  then,  com 
manded  in  a  brutal,  peremptory  tone : 

"Stand,  and  deliver  ?" 

Ruddell  pulled  up  short. 

"  Now,  see  here,  my  friend,"  said  the  young  desperado,  in  a  gentler  voice, 
"  all  I  want  to  do  is  borrow  your  money  ;  for,  though  I  am  a  toll-gatherer  on 
the  roads  of  my  own  taxes,  I  never  like  to  relieve  of  his  gold  a  brave  man — and 
I  am  sure  you  are  one  to  travel  the  roads  alone.  As  true  as  my  name's  Joa 
quin,  I  will  repay  you  every  cent  of  what  you  lend  me." 

"  Joaquin,  eh  ?"  muttered  Ruddell,  clapping  his  hand  on  the  stock  of  his 
pistol. 

Joaquin  made  a  threatening  motion. 

"  Come,  none  of  your  nonsense !"  exclaimed  he.  "  I  am  not  often  '  shoal  on 
the  bar,'  and  you  may  rely  on  my  promise.  I  have  no  wish  to  kill  you,  but  if 
you  take  to  pop-guns,  by  Our  Lady,  you'll  go  toes  up  most  certainly  !" 

Ruddell  was  not  the  man  to  take  a  robber's  advice  when  it  related  to  a  game 
two  could  play  at ;  and  he  tried  to  pull  out  his  fire-arm,  but  the  confounded 
hammer  had  worked  into  the  lining  of  his  pants  and  he  could  not  disengage  it. 

At  this  moment,  Reynards  Felix  thundered  on  at  a  gallop,  in  order  to  tell  his 
leader  to  make,  haste,  as  two  well-mounted  strangers  were  cunning  up  at  full 
drive. 

"  To  hell's  flames  with  them !"  swore  the  bandit  uncocking  his  Colt's  and 
stuffing  it  into  its  case ;  at  the  same  time  he  flashed  out  his  long  knife,  leaned 
over  and,  dealing  the  wagoner  a  dreadful  stab,  fairly  tore  him  from  the  saddle. 

Felix  jumped  down  and  turned  out  Allan's  pockets,  in  which  he  four.d  the 
moderate  figure  of  four  hundred  dollars. 

Joaquin  and  his  followers  continued  their  way  to  meet  the  new  comers. 
Before  five  minutes  had  elapsed  the  latter  came  into  view. 

"  Now,"  said  Joaquin,  "  we'll  see  what  this  haul  will  be.  I  won't  stand  any 
fooling  this  time." 

A  prick  of  the  spur  made  his  horse  spring  forward  in  advance  of  his  little 
band.  The  six  holes  of  his  revolver  bearing  on  those  approaching  were  suffi 
cient  without  the  summons  accompanying  the  movement,  to  prevail  on  them  to 
draw  rein.  As  the  horses  reared,  one  of  the  riders  laughed  and  said : 

"  Why  hullo,  Joaquin,  don't  you  know  me  1  Is  Bill  Miller  dead  and  under 
in  you  mind1?" 

"  By  heaven,  so  it  is  you,"  said  the  Sonorian  with  a  smile ;  "  I  swear  I  didn't 
know  you  at  first.  It's  a  slapping  bit  of  horseflesh  between  your  legs,  Bill !" 

"  Oh,  I'll  bet  you,  yes.  You  see  I've  been  picking  out  some  good  goers  in 
Sacramento  Valley.  Fm  going  down  into  that  beautiful  Sonora  of  yours  on  a 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  21 

spec  in  horses.     I'm  dry  as  a  mountain  lake  in  summer  and  I've  got  to  raise 
some  '  dough'  afore  long." 

"  The  deuce  you  say,  Bill  ?  You're  a  Yank,  to  be  sure,  but  you've  always 
shown  yourself  to  be  a  friend  of  mine.  If  a  hundred  will  help  you  along  any, 
ask  and  here's  the  chink — its  yours." 

"  Thank  you,  my  boy,"  said  Bill,  stowing  away  the  sum,  "  it's  as  good  a 
windfall  as  if  one  of  the  Big  Trees  was  blown  down.  Good  luck  till  next 
time  !" 

"  Adios,  amigo — good  bye !  luck  to  you  as  well,"  returned  the  captain  of  the 
plunderers.  "  Don't  mind  a  man  and  some  horses  just  above  on  the  road." 

"What  then?" 

"  The  stupid  fellow  ran  against  a  knife  I  had  in  my  hand,  that's  all,"  added 
the  young  leader. 

"  Hum  !  that's  settled,"  and  off  went  Miller  and  his  companion  their  way, 
while  the  Mexicans  went  theirs. 

The  murder  of  Allan  Ruddell  stirred  up  the  embers  again.  To  slay  a  man 
for  four  hundred  dollars  was  held  to  be  "  mighty  mean." 

Now,  one  of  the  hot  coals  that  news  fanned  into  flame,  was  Captain  Harry 
Love,  a  Pacific  State  Jack  Hays,  who  got  the  idea  into  his  head  of  organizing  on 
his  own  hook  a  little  company  to  hunt  the  bold  brigand. 

Since  he  had  been  able  to  reach  a  stirrup  from  the  ground  and  to  hold  out 
a  pistol,  Harry  Love  had  been  in  the  life  of  a  ranger :  his  whole  existence  had 
passed  in  braving  fatigue  and  danger.  He  had  rendered  Uncle  Sam  great  and 
many  services  during  the  Mexican  War,  where  he  had  been  bearer  of  dispatched 
between  the  military  stations,  through  a  country  as  wild  and  dangerous  a 
could  be  naturally,  besides  being  bountifully  supplied  with  guerrillas  and  inde 
pendent  lancers.  A  coolness  under  fire  that  was  unequalled,  remarkable  skill 
in  handling  rifle,  six-shooter  and  bowie,  made  him  the  man  of  all  others  to  be 
fitted  against  a  desperado  of  Joaquin's  calibre. 

After  Ruddell's  murder,  Captain  Harry  Love  set  out  on  the  assassin's  trail 
and  pursued  him  to  the  Rancheria  of  San  Luis  de  Gonzago,  which  served  as  the 
usual  haunt  of  the  coyotes. 

He  got  there  after  night-fall  and,  informed  by  a  spy  whom  he  had  posted 
there,  that  the  men  he  sought  were  surely  in  a  tent  at  the  other  end  of  the  ran- 
cheria,  he  led  his  men  cautiously  in  that  direction. 

But,  before  they  arrived  at  the  door,  a  woman  in  the  next  canvas  house 
espied  them  and  gave  the  alarm.  Quicker  than  thought,  Joaquin,  Felix,  and 
Gonzalez  and  Cardoza  made  a  slit  in  the  back  of  the  tent  and  slipped  out  and 
away  under  cover  of  the  darkness. 

When  Harry  Love  and  his  companions  made  a  dash  in  through  the  front 
opening,  they  encountered — instead  of  a  volley  and  a  display  of  daggers — the 
feigned  screams  of  surprise  of  four  or  five  females,  three  of  whom  were  the  mis 
tresses  of  the  chiefs  of  the  despoilers.  The  captain  was  not  aware  of  this  fact, 
or  he  might  have  made  hostages  of  them.  He  did  not  deem  it  well  to  press  on 
the  chase  at  this  juncture  and  let  the  thieves  go  quiet  wijth  the  scare  for  this 
time. 

Meanwhile,  the  escaped  four  had  fled  straight  as  the  crow  flies  to  a  place  eight 
miles  off,  called  Orris  Timbers,  where  they  took  their  revenge  for  being  made 
fly  in  stealing  about  thirty  fine  horses,  which  they  drove  off  into  the  highlands 
near  at  hand. 

On  the  following  night,  they  returned  to  their  light-o'-loves  who  donned  theii 
masculine  in  all  haste,  and  all  turned  again  to  the  Sierra.  They  stayed  there 
until  dawn,  after  which  the  party  crossed  Tular  Prairie  to  Los  Angelos,  driving 
before  them  the  stolen  cattle. 

On  coming  into  the  country  of  the  Tejon  Indians,  they  encamped  on  the  brink 


22  Joa'quin,  (the    Claudt   Duoal  of  California);  4 

of  a  brooklet  something  less  than  five  miles  from   the  chief  village   of  that 
tribe. 

Everything  seemed  to  promise  that  there  was  nothing  to  fear  on  the  part  of 
those  redskins,  next  to  the  Pah-Utahs  most  inoffensive  of  unromantic,  dirty, 
greasy,  grubbing,  ignoble  children  of  the  forest.  So  they  stacked  arms,  so 
to  say,  and  resolved  for  several  days  to  do  no  other  hard  work  than  rest  and 
have  their  fun. 

Now  it  chanced  that  one  prowling  savage,  having  snuffed  roasting  meat 
with  his  capacious  nostrils,  crept  up  to  the  Mexican  camping-ground,  remarked 
their  showy  raiment,  their  profusion  of  jewelry  and  the  -valuable  horses  that 
grazed  around  them,  and  ran  off  to  the  capital  city  and  into  th,e  royal  palace 
[an  old  gutta-percha  blanket  and  a  piece  of  sail-cloth  stretched  on  poles)  of  the 
old  Sagamore  Zappatara,  to  whom  he  glowingly  depicted  the  wealth  of  the 
pale-faces. 

One  evening  as  Murieta,  Gonzalez,  and  Felix,  far  from  dreaming  of  danger, 
were  amusing  themselves  with  their  fair 'but  frail  companions,  and  as  Cardoza, 
stretched  on  the  high  grass,  carelessly  kept  an  eye  on  the  cattle  cropping  choice 
tufts  of  herbage  here  and  there,  they  were  all  surrounded  and  overpowered  by  a 
formidable  crew  of  soiled  aborigines,  whose  bonds  not  exactly  of  friendship  but 
of  ui.breakable  rawhide,  speedily  encircled  them. 

If  a  dagger  had  glittered,  or  a  pistol  had  gone  of  by  accident,  or  if  even  a 
good  fist-blow  had  drawn  blood  from  one  son  of  the  woodlands'  nose,  ten  to 
one  the  whole  party  would  have  whisked  round  and  shot  back  on  the  warpath 
with  antelope's  speed. 

But,  inasmuch  as  nothing  of  the  kind  occurred,  they  were  delighted  at  the 
unalloyed  success  of  the  enterprise,  and  leaves  fell  off  the  oaks  at  the  deafening 
yell  of  joy  that  went  up  from  the  throng,  dancing,  kicking  up  behind  and  before, 
brandishing  weapons  unpleasantly  under  the  captives'  eyes,  and  almost  kissing 
the  lucky  brother  who  had  found  out  the  fish  and  spread  the  net  which  had  en 
tangled  them.  Dragged  to  the  headquarters  of  the  valiant  tribe,  the  prisoners 
were  stripped  (with  an  expertness  which  they,  though  good  judges,  might  envy) 
of  jewels,  arms  and  clothing,  being  only  permitted  to  preserve,  as  offerings  of 
respect  to  their  modesty,  several  strips  of  cloth  which  were  utterly  useless  to 
the  savages. 

The  Mexicans  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  old  Zappatara  circulate  among 
the  ravished  squaws  in  three  of  their  suits,  one  over  the  other.  The  other  male 
garb  went  to  the  spy. 

The  Indians  moreover  had  reaped  and  gleaned  a  harvest  over  and  above  the 
horses  of  four  thousand  dollars  in  gold  and  half  that  amount  in  jewels.  The 
lives  of  the  robbers  were  also  in  their  hands. 

For  a  whole  long  week,  the  venerable  chieftain  kept  them  prisoners  of  war, 
while  he  puzzled  his  elevated  brain  as  to  whether  he  should  have  them  made 
living  targets,  have  them  shot,  burnt,  hanged,  drowned,  made  to  run  the  gaunt 
let  (for  which  the  voice  of  the  women  spoke,  as  their  dear  little  boys  hadn't  had 
any  sport  of  late),  or  what  not. 

At  last,  mercifully  considering  that  they  must  be  sufficiently  punished  for 
the  impudence  of  having  entered  his  hunting-grounds,  he  came  to  another  con 
clusion. 

He  called  a  council.  And  he  had  translated  to  the  captives  a  long  speech  in 
which,  after  declaring  himself  almost  ready  to  wash  out  in  their  blood  the  stain 
on  his  tribe  put  there  by  his  having  heard  them  curse  them  for  "rascally  Injins," 
he  spread  himself  in  moral  reflections  on  the  enormity  and  number  of  the  crimes 
which  they  must  have  committed  to  have  become  possessed  of  such  a  great 
quantity  of  gold  and  jewels. 

Then  he  had  them  "  walked  off  Spanish"  to  the  confines  of  his  realm,  escorted 
by  a  detachment  of  his  life-guard  armed  to  the  teeth  with  the  knives  and  fire 
arms  late  the  Mexicans,  where  they  were  glad  to  be  let  free. 


Or     The  J/h-/v7.v.J«?r  of  the  Mines.  23 

CHAPTER    V. 

MEETING  WITH  THE  MOUNTAIN  JIM. HARRY  LOVE  TAKES  GONZALEZ  AND  '  BLOCKS 

THE  GAME"  OF  RESCUE. — MURDER  OF  CAPTAIN  WILSON  AND  GENERAL  BEAN. 
JOE  LAKE  DOES  HIS  DUTY  AND  IS  WIPED  OUT. 

JOAQUIN  had  borne  his  durance  with  the  most  perfect  resignation.  He  could 
not  help  laughing  to  himself  at  his  ridiculous  position  and  was  astonished  that 
the  Tejons,  not  exactly  accounted  as  copper-faced  Chevalier  Bayards,  should 
have  ever  had  pluck  enough  to  see  out  an  exploit  so  risky. 

After  two  days'  journey,  the  little  company  gained  the  entrance  of  Tejon  Pass, 
situated  a  few  miles  from  the  San  Francisco  Ranche.  They  had  the  fortune 
there  to  meet  one  of  their  supporters,  Mountain  Jim,  who — on  having  heard  the 
story  of  their  adventure — went  back  to  the  settlement,  from  which  he  brought 
the  vestments  of  which  they  stood  in  need,  and  besides  furnished  them  with 
three  horse's. 

One  of  them,  a  splendid  animal,  black  without  one  white  hair,  elegantly 
bridled  and  saddled,  was  made  a  present  to  the  chief  with  a  Colt's  revolver  and 
a  knife.  Thus  was  Joaquin,  late  a  defenceless  fugitive,  quickly  turned  into  the 
redoubtable  King  of  Cutthroats,  well  clad,  booted;  and  armed,  by  means  of  the 
branch  resources  of  the  association  formed  and  directed  by  his  genius  for  plun 
der. 

All  being  well  once  more,  Joaquin,  Felix  and  Gonzalez  mounted,  took  up 
their  love-lasses  on  the  crupper  arid  went  off  at  full  speed  in  the  direction  of  San 
Gabriel.  Cardoza  followed  them  on  foot. 

They  did  not  reach  that  place  until  far  into  the  night.  On  entering  their 
place  of  meeting,  an  out-of-the-way  house,  they  unexpectedly  found  Guerra  and 
Valenzuela  with  their  commands. 

Returned  to  Sonora  sooner  than  had  been  calculated,  and  not  finding  their 
outlaw  general  at  Arroyo  Cantuva,  they  had  preferred  to  try  a  new  expedition 
of  ravaging  rather  than  rust  in  idleness. 

They  had  committed  numerous  depredations  since  their  return  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  San  Gabriel,  but  they  had  brought  the  attention  of  General  Bean 
upon  them  and  he  had  so  hotly  chased  them  that  they  had  only  escaped  two  or 
three  brushes  by  superior  running. 

"  That  man  must  die  !"  said  Joaquin.  "  He  has  become  too  dangerous  to  us, 
and  we  will  have  to  rub  him  out  before  we  pull  up  stakes  hereabouts." 

"  Death,  death  to  the  general !"  was  the  unanimous  cry. 

The  conversation  turned  next  on  the  trip  to  Sonora. 

The  marauders  told  their  commander  that  the  stock  run  off  had  been  placed 
safely  on  the  farm  which  he  had  designated. 

The  gang  was  abundantly  supplied  with  food,  clothes,  liquors  and  cigars,  so 
they  made  up  their  minds  to  spend  two  or  three  weeks  in  this  "  location." 

In  the  meantime,  Gonzalez  and  Cardoza  were  sent  on  a  private  mission  to  the 
Santa  Buenaventura  Ranche,  which  was  where  the  Californian  highway  chief 
took  refuge  in  imminent  danger. 

Several  days  afterwards,  Captain  Harry  Love,  deputy  sheriff  then  of  Lo-s 
Ange-los  County,  who  knew  Gonzalez  by  sight,  perceived  him  with  Cardoza 
near  Buenaventura,  and  instantly  set  to  work  to  secure  and  him  give  over  to 
justice. 

After  having  patiently  watched  them  he  saw  them  go  into  a  little  grocery  01 
doggery,  situated  on  a  cross-path  through  the  mountains.  The  captain  took  up 
his  position  behind  a  rock,  and  kept  a  steady  look-out. 

Twenty  minutes  or  so  elapsed  when  Harry,  beginning  to  find  the  bandits- 
stay  rather  long,  left  his  hiding-place  and  proceeded  toward  the  shanty.  At 


24  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duva.  of  California); 

the  moment  of  his  stepping  up  to  it,  Cardoza  came  out,  but  alone,  and  took 
the  mountain  road. 

Love  sprang  upon  him,  but  the  brigand  gave  him  the  slip  and  took  to  his 
heels  at  a  fast  pace. 

A  couple  of  balls  whistled  after  him,  one  of  which  furrowed  his  skull,  while, 
the  other  sent  flying  into  splinters  the  angle  of  a  boulder  which  the  fugitive 
leaped  around  and  behind  which  he  vanished. 

The  captain,  who  did  not  greatly  hold  the  capture  of  Cardoza  to  heart, 
turned  all  his  attention  thereupon  on  Gonzalez,  whom  he  knew  to  be  a  des 
perate  scoundrel,  whereas  he  could  only  suspect  the  fled  one  on  the  "birds 
of  a  feather  flock  together"  principle.  On  rushing  into  the  cabin,  pistol  in  hand 
expecting  to  have  a  fierce  and  bloody  tussle,  he  was  astonished  to  see  the  thief 
drunk  on  the  trodden-earth  floor. 

Half  an  hour  after,  by  which  time  he  had  brought  the  drunkard  around  by 
shaking  him  and  dousing  him  with  water,  the  two  were  jogging  along  over  the 
road  to  the  chief  town  of  the  county. 

Cardoza  saw  them  from  the  distance  and  he  lost  no  time  to  inform  his  supe 
rior  of  it. 

The  latter,  followed  by  Mountain  Jim  and  by  the  whole  of  Valenzuela's  gang 
flew  in  all  haste  with  the  intention  of  surrounding  the  captor  and  delivering 
their  entrapped  brother.  They  travelled  all  night  and,  at  dawn,  came  at  length 
upon  the  two. 

Gonzalez  heard  their  signal,  and  responded  to  it  by  turning  in  the  saddle  and 
waving  his  scarf. 

Harry,  on  his  side,  felt  what  was  the  jeopardy  in  which  he  was  placed  riding 
alone  with  so  dangerous  a  companion,  and,  on  seeing  the  latter's  appeal  which 
treachery  broke  all  the  tacit  faith  between  them,  he  put  a  bullet  in  Gonzalez's 
heart. 

A  glance  behind  showed  him  a  whirling  column  of  dust  in  which  rode  a  troop 
of  horses  as  swift  as  the  wind.  He  gave  his  steed  the  spur  and  rode  on  at  that 
tearing,  break-neck  gait  which  the  rangers  know  how  to  make  a  nag  take. 

A  few  minutes  afterwards,  the  would-be  rescuers  pulled  up  at  the  spot  where 
the  prisoner  had  fallen ;  finding  him  free  by  death,  they,  yelled  with  rage  and 
disappointment. 

They  could  not  do  anything,  for — with  the  start  the  captain  had — the  best  of 
Morgan  or  Eclipse  blood  could  scarcely  have  overtaken  him  before  he  rattled 
into  town  with  the  news  of  having  cleared  the  roads  of  one  red-handed  rover. 

On  the  baffled  robbers  returning  to  San  Gabriel,  Joaquin  learned  that  Three- 
fingered  Jack  and  his  division  were  at  Los  Angelos  and  that  Captain  Wilson, 
deputy  sheriff  of  Santa  Barbara  County,  had  visited  San  Gabriel  the  night  before, 
with  the  design  of  seeking  the  head  of  the  highwayman,  whom  he  had  sworn  to 
take  dead  or  alive.  In  eagerness  to  see  Jack,  Joaquin  took  two  of  his  boldest 
rogues  with  him  and  went  down  to  Los  Angelos,  where  he  found  his  lieutenant. 

The  latter  reported  that  he  had  burnt,  ten  miles  out  of  San  Gabriel,  a  house 
of  which  all  the  people  had  been  massacred  one  after  another  as  they  tried  in 
agony  to  flee  through  the  flames. 

The  chief  remained  several  days  there  in  his  old  asylum. 

One  evening  as  he  went  the  rounds  to  gather  the  news,  he  heard  that  Captain 
Wilson  had  put  up  at  the  hotel,  speaking  openly  of  the  resolve  he  had  made  to 
put  an  end  shortly  to  the  criminal  career  of  the  young  terror  of  the  placers. 

The  next  evening  a  couple  of  native  miners  got  into  a  row  in  front  of  that 
hotel,  and  a  crowd  speedily  collected  to  witness  the  fight. 

Like  others,  Captain  Wilson  ran  down  into  the  street  in  order  to  look  at  the 
struggle. 

A  horseman  was  beside  him  at  the  outskirts  of  the  ring,  who  bent  down  tc 
say  in  his  ear : 

"  1  am  Joaquin  !" 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  25 

Wilson  startled,  instinctively  caught  at  the  horse's  reins,  but  they  had  been 
already  jerked  away,  and  as  he  lifted  his  head  a  btillet  penetrated  it,  and  he  fell 
under  the  feet  of  the  bystanders,  breathing  his  last. 

With  a  loud  re-itterance  of  his  outcry,  the   Sonorian  spurred  from  the  spot. 

The  quarrel  between  the  Californians  had  been  a  trick  invented  by  Jack  of 
the  Three  Fingers  merely  to  draw  Wilson  out  of  the  hotel  and  give  his  com 
mander  an  opening  for  the  assassination. 

After  a  short  conference  with  his  lieutenants,  the  leader  sent  Valenzuela  and 
his  men,  including  Mountain  Jim  and  Cardoza,  into  San  Diego  County. 

Their  orders  were  to  run  off  all  the  live-stock  (equine)  that  they  could  come 
across  and 'take  them  to  the  depot  at  Arroyo  Cantuva. 

In  the  meanwhile,  he  retraced  his  steps  to  San  Gabriel  with  Jack  and  some 
others. 

At  the  end  of  a  week  or  so,  Luis  Guerra,  who  had  been  set  to  spy  the  move 
ments  of  Genera]  Bean,  saw  the  latter  one  evening  leaving  his  dwelling  in  the 
town  to  ride  to  a  piece  of  property  which  he  owned  some  miles  distant. 

Joaquin,  the  spy,  and  Three-fingered  Jack  started  personally  on  the  mission 
and  ambushed  themselves  on  the  highway  about  a  mile  from  the  general's  des 
tination. 

When  he  came  abreast  of  the  waylayers,  they  leaped  out  altogether  on  him, 
and  despite  a  vigorous-  and  gallant  defense,  the  bandits  rendered  useless  the  wea 
pons  which  Bean  carried. 

Guerra  and  Jack  pulled  him  out  of  his  saddle,  and  their  master  twice  buried 
his  knife  in  the  brave  heart  and  stretched  the  man  at  his  feet ;  the  three-fingered 
miscreant,  to  satisfy  his  brutal  instincts,  concluded  his  share  in  the  atrocity  by 
clapping  his  six-shooter  to  the  corpse's  head  and  emptying  half  the  barrels  in  the 
fractured  skull. 

This  awful  execution  finished,  the  actors  fled  to  their  fellows,  with  whom  they 
went  northerly  into  Calaveras  County,  "  blazing"  their  path  by  a  long  series  of 
robberies. 

The  month  of  August  was  dying  out  in  '52,  when  the  Scourge  of  the  Golden 
State  set  foot  in  the  town  of  Jackson. 

One  evening,  as  he'  was  strolling  about  unattended,  he  encountered  a  young 
man  of  the  name  of  Joseph  Lake,  who  had  been  known  by  him  before  he  had 
taken  to  the  road. 

They  had  worked  "  share  and  share"  in  the  mines  on  the  Stanislaus,  and  had 
been  intimate  during  some  time. 

After  a  friendly  greeting,  the  outlaw  turned  bridle  and  for  several  minutes, 
rode  on  silently  by  the  others  side,  boot  to  boot.  At  last,  gently  tapping  Lake 
on  the  shoulder,  he  said  in  a  voice  a  little  affected  by  emotion : 

"  Joe,  there's  no  use  talking.  You  know  what  I  was,  and  what  I  am  now-a- 
days ;  but,  I  swear  to  you  before  heaven,  injustice  and  tryanny  drove  me  to  it !" 

So  say  all  such  men.  He  who  avenges  a  wrong  on  the  committer  of  it, 
may  be  pardoned  by  his  fellow  man,  but  there  can  be  no  excuse  to  the  person 
who  wars  against  society,  and  deals  his  blows  alike  at  old  and  young,  innocent 
and  guilty. 

"  1  don't  ask  you  to  like  me  and  to  esteem  me  now,"  continued  Joaquin,  "  for 
you  are  an  honest  fellow,  but  I  beg  one  favor  of  you,  don't  betray  me  to  those- 
who  do  not  know  my  real  name  and  character  here." 

"  Joaquin,"  answered  the  other,  "it's  true  that  we  were  hand  in  hand  together 
in  the  old  days,  we  were  thick  as  brothers.  So  we  would  be  still,  if  you  had 
kept  in  the  honest  man's  path ;  but  the  papers  are  cancelled  to-day  and  there's 
too  wide  a  gulch  between  us." 

"  You're  right  there,  Joe,"  said  the  Sonorian ;  "  but  for  all  that  you  won't 
betray  me.  Though  the  Americans  are  my  deadly  enemies,  I  love  you  for  the 

sake  of  the  past,  and  I'll  be  d sorry  to  harm  you,  but  I  will  have  to  kill 

you,  rest  assured,  if  you  speak  one  word  of  this  meeting  of  ours." 


26  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

"  Never  fear,"  replied  Lake.  "  No  danger  of  that.  But  you  need  not  be  to 
free  of  threats." 

Thus  they  parted. 

The  chief  of  the  cutthroats  took  a  roundabout  way  to  reach  his  retreat,  while 
his  former  friend  went  on  the  road  wrhich  led  him  to  the  little  hamlet  of  Ornitas 
where  he  lived. 

Lake  thought  over  the  whole  during  the  night,  and  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  waken  his  countrymen  to  the  fact  of  the  dreaded  banditti , 
no  doubt  being  in  seclusion  so  near,  and  he  told  of  his  meeting  with  Murieta. 

Only  a  few  feet  from  Lake,  as  he  was  acquainting  his  friends  with  this,  was 
half  reclining  a  Mexican  wrapped  up  in  his  blanket  who  seemed  to  be  equally 
wrapped  up  in  the  puffing  of  his  cigarettes,  one  of  which  he  oifered  to  the  Amer- 
can  with  that  charming  gracefulness,  inborn  in  the  Mexicans,  the  Spanish  and 
Italians, 

About  three  hours  afterwards,  a  man,  whose  horse  was  standing  a  little  way 
from  him,  walked  up  slowly  to  a  party  chatting  in  front  of  a  shop,  of  which  one 
was  Joe  Lake. 

"  Friend,  come  here  a  moment,  if  you  please,"  was  the  politely-entoned  desire 
coming  from  the  heavy  black  beard  of  the  stranger. 

"  Joe,  you're  wanted,"  said  his  friends,  pushing  him  towards  the  caller. 

"  Do  you  know  me,  Joe  ?"  asked  the  latter. 

"  Why,  I  know  you  voice,  1  think,  but " 

The  false  beard  fell  off  the  face. 

"  Ha !  you  are " 

"  Joaquin  !  you've  betrayed  me,  sir  !" 

With  the  words  a  bullet  flew  at  Lake,  and  he  dropped  dead  with  a  shattered 
skull. 

Thanks  to  the  celerity  of  himself  and  of  his  horse,  the  murderer  ran  unscathed 
the  gauntlet  of  shots. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  was  descried  on  top  of  a  hill  in  the  distance,  leading 
away  some  forty  or  fifty  mounted  men. 

"  The  robbers,  the  robbers  !"  was  the  cry  of  all,  to  which  a  shout,  made  faint 
by  the  space  between,  fiercely  if  low  responded. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


HAUNT    AND  NEW  RECRUITS. 

THE  king  coyote,  uneasy  about  his  acolytes,  Valenzuela,  Cardoza,  and  Moun 
tain  Jim,  and  about  the  results  of  their  doings,  directed  his  steps  towards  the 
general  rendezvous. 

On  the  following  day,  they  encamped  on  the  high  edge  of  a  gully,  where,  af 
ter  having  kindled  a  rousing  fire,  they  all  commenced  an  onslaught  on  sardines 
and  crackers,  of  wrhich  handy  comestibles  the  depredator  usually  had  good 
store. 

In  the  middle  of  the  meal,  Jack  of  the  Three  Fingers  directed  the  attention  of 
his  comrades  towards  a  little  spark  of  fire  which  seemed  to  be  a  fixed  point  in 
the  cup  of  the  ravine. 

"  Holy  Mother  !"  exclaimed  the  Mexicans.     "  Who  and  what  can  that  be  ?" 

"  It  is  in  all  likelihood  the  camp-fire  of  some  of  the  redskins,"  said  Joaquin, 
letting  his  eyes  listlessly  wander  towards  the  indicated  site.  As  you  found  it 
out  first,  Jack,"  said  he  with  a  smile  to  the  man  of  the  mutilated  hand,  suppose 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  27 

fou  do  us  the  pleasure  of  scouting  a  bit  thereaway  and  seeing  if  a  little  dust  or  a 
nugget  or  two  is  not  to  be  had  for  the  asking." 

"  That's  me,  Cap.,"  replied  the  other. 

He  jumped  up  on  his  feet  and,  after  giving  his  large  mouth  a  dry  wipe  with 
his  not  over-clean  jacket  sleeve  added : 

"  You'll  always  find  this  chap  ready  for  that  sort  of  biz." 

"  Good  !  but  finish  your  supper,"  said  the  robber  chief. 

"  Oh,  no,  I'll  set  sail  d'rectly.  There's  no  fear  of  the  sardines  growing  cold, 
ha,  ha  !" 

Sticking  his  revolver  and  knife  into  his  belt  the  speaker  walked  into  the  brush 
with  the  easy  step  of  a  man  who  would  not  in  the  least  mind  whatever  might 
jump  up  out  of  the  shadows  so  thick  in  the  underwood. 

"  Jack's  a  brave  lad,"  remarked  Felix,  "  he  goes  into  a  muss  as  freely  as  into 
a  fandango.  But  he's  unluckily  an  awful  lover  of  bloodshed." 

"  Oh,  there's  worse  than  he,"  interrupted  Guerra,  "  he  ain't  half  what  was  old 
Padre  Jurata,  whom  many  of  us  had  for  chief  in  Mexico." 

"  No,  no,  certainly  not !"  chorussed  half  a  dozen. 

"  He  was  a  regular  devil !"  .  went  on  Guerra.  "  A  downright  monster.  You 
remember  the  way  he  cleared  out  the  Aparelhos,  boys  ?" 

Some  did,  and  some  did  not  remember  the  said  "  clearing  out,"  and  those 
who  were  on  the  ignoramus  side  pressed  Guerra  to  tell  the  story.  So  applying 
to  a  bottle  first  to  wash  down  the  dry  cracker  crumbs,  the  old  Mexican  free 
lance  began  this  story,  which  is  only  too  true. 

"Well,  you  must- know  that  an  American  sailor  long  before  the  war  with  the 
confounded  heritics  of  North  Americans,  cast  anchor  from  cruising  in  Guaymas. 
He  married  a  Sonorian  girl  and  very  soon  afterwards  removed  up  north  near 
the  border,  up  our  way.  His  boys  grew  up  not  twenty  miles  from  our  house, 
and  we  often  went  hunting  together.  The  old  chap  was  a  skinny  but  very  tall 
fellow,  all  bones  and  muscle,  which  had  given  him  his  name,  for  his  real  one 
was  unpronounceable  to  us,  these  Smeets  and  Bruns  and  Gohanes  are  dreadful 
barbarious,  say,  ain't  they,  compared  to  our  musical  ones." 

"  Oh,  yes,  yes  !"  rose  all  the  voices  unanimously. 

"  Well,  Aparelhos,  as  his  boys  grew  up,  two  he  had  I  ought  to  have  said  as 
well  as  a  daughter,  began*  to  have  a  reputation  for  wealth  growing  up  as  well. 
He  had  huge  luck,  and  he  used  to  work  right  up  to  the  first  heavy  fall  in  the 
rainy  season  and  begin  again  the  moment  the  ground  was  the  least  dried.  These 
Americans  are  shockingly  industrious,  say,  mates  all "?" 

"  Oh,  there's  no  name  foi  it  •"  said  the  bandits  groaning  at  the  dreadful  de 
pravity  of  men  who  wouldn't  be  idle. 

"  He  used  to  find  gold,  sometimes  silver,  choice  pieces  of  fragrant  wood  that 
brought  thundering  prices  at  the  port  and  was  h —  on  hitting  the  animals  that 
had  the  finest  skins.  So  it  went  on  all  well  with  him,  his  farm  extended,  for  he 
bought  Ignacio  Rosales,  Martin  Morelos,  Fabrino  Cartelho  out  and  out,  cattle, 
haciendo  and  ground.  But  the  war  broke  out  when  those  gringos  said  Texas 
was  theirs  and  not  ours  and  did  get  it,  too.  Galveston's  five  times  the  size  it  was 
a  few  years  ago — just  think  of  the  devil's  children  being  so  busy  !" 

All  the  hands  were  lifted  in  pious  horror  and  all  the  voices  groaned  a  deep 
"  Oh  !" 

"  Just  about  this  time,"  went  on  Guerra,  "  Padre  Jurata  began  to  preach  and, 
a  lot  of  us  coming  together — you,  and  you,  and  you,  know,  eh  ?" 

Haifa  dozen  nodded. 

"  We  formed  a  neat  little  guerrilla  band  and  had  a  lively  time  skurrying 
about  to  pick  up  such  Yankees  as  were  caught  in  the  province,  confiscating  their 
goods  for  the  cause.  Aparelhos  had  lived  among  us  so  long  that  none  of  us  re 
collected  that  he  was  one  of  the  heritics.  Well,  one  summer's  night — oh,  how 


28  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

well  I  remember  the  scene,  the  horses  around,  the  reverend  father  tight  as  a 
brick,  his  lieutenant  Fra  Christino  most  as  far  gone,  Ramon  Ninonentz  and  me 
playing  cards — LordJ  I  remember  going  to  play  *  a  seven  of  swords,'  to  his  '  nine 
of  lozenges'  !  Poor  fellow,  he  was  thrown  out  of  One  of  those  big  two  story 
houses  in  Sansome  street  by  a  Goliah  of  a  yankee  who  caught  him  in  the  room 
of  his  girl — girts  were  scarce  in  those  days — and  poor  Ramon  was  stunned  and 
smothered  in  a  mud-puddle.  Well,  he  and  me  were  playing  as  our  sentinels 
brought  a  young  fellow  into  camp,  his  hands  tied  behind  him. 

" '  Here's  'Mingo  Aparelhos,'  said  our  men  ;  '  caught  hanging  round  camp, 
coyote  fashion.' 

"  '  You  lie,'  says  he,  '  I  was  coming  to  see  the  reverend  father.' 

"  With  that  Brother  Christino  jumped  up  and  says  he :  '  Padre  Jurata  is  in  a 
religious  ecstasy.  What  do  you  want  ?' 

"  Now  Domingo  was  a  half  breed  who  was  the  castaway  from  everybody  in 
the  village — heaven  knows  who  his  father  was,  the  mother  was  a  poor  wretch  of 
a  loose  Indian-Sonorian  who  took  to  the  woods  when  he  was  born.  Evil  tongues 
said  Sailor  Aparelhos  had  something  to  do  with  the  parentage — I  don't  believe 
it  myself,  and  I  won't  speak  ill  of  the  dead  and  gone  to  purgatory.  Partly 
from  that  and  more  because  he  had  taken  pity  on  the  boy  and  housed  him.  The 
mongrel  was  half-cracked  anyhow. 

"  While  we  were  questioning  him,  old  Jurata  woke  up. 

"  '  What's  the  row  V  '  A  prisoner,'  answered  Christino.  '  Oh,  hang  him  !' 
'  But  he's  got  something  to  tell  us.'  '  Give  him  a  drink  and  loosen  his  tongue.' 
*  But  he's  a  half-breed  son  of  a  heretic  and  we  don't  want  to  foul  our  bottles 
with  his  satanic  lips,'  said  the  fra  who  was  death  on  the  enemies  of  the  faith. 
'  Brother.  Half  hang  him,  cut  him  down,  and  kick  him  into  a  thorn  bush,  and 
don't  keep  the  mezcal  all  to  yourself  while  you're  doing  it.'  *  But  he  talks  of 
money,'  continued  Fra  Christino  in  a  loud  whisper. 

"  Jurata  jumped  up,  and  only  staggered  a  little.  '  Mother  Church,  in  her 
holy  son  here  representing,  is  always  ready  to  receive,'  he  began,  forgetting  he 
was  on  the  war-path.  But  a  shake  from  his  lieutenant  set  him  to  rights 

"  '  Well,  what  brought  you  here  to  the  camp  of  the  Loyal  Lancers  and  Gov 
ernment  Guerrillas  of  the  Province  of  Sonora,'  challenged  our  commands  to 
scare  him. 

"  '  I  want  to  be  enrolled  in  your  band,'  answered  Mingo. 

"  '  The  dev —  I  mean,  the  dev-ouk  vow  I  have  to  keep  my  ranks  pure  won't 

allow  that,  my  son.     You're  the  son  of  a  heretic — the  offspring  of  the  devil 
» 

"  *  No  more  devil  than  you,'  cried  Domingo,  who  was  very  easily  set  fire. 
"  I'm  in  love  with  Donna  Manyolina  and  I  told  her  so  this  morning.  She  took 
me  by  the  throat  and  locked  me  up  in  her  room,  which  I  entered,  till  hei 
brothers  and  the  old  man  came  home.  The  old  wretch  whipped  me  like  a  dog 
and  the  cursed  sons,  laughing  at  me  all  the  while,  dragged  me  to  the  horsepond 
and  chucked  me  in.' 

"  '  You  do  look  damp,'  said  Juruta,  and  we  all  laughed. 

" <  I've  sworn  to  be  avenged,'  went  on  'Mingo,  '  I'll  kill  all  the  Aparelhos, 
burn  their  houses,  cut  their  cattle's  throats,  pull  down  the  hacienda  walls ' 

"  '  Go  on ;  I  don't  see  that  it's  our  business,'  said  Jurata,  and  we  burst  into 
laughter  again,  the  mongrel  looked  so  comic  yelling  out  and  tossing  his  arms, 
which  we  had  unloosed,  about. 

"  But  Aparelhos  is  an  American  in  heart — so  are  they  all,'  screamed  Domin 
go  in  fury — they  are  joyous  when  they  hear  of  the  victories  of  the  United  States 
— they  were  mad  and  sad  when  they  heard  of  the  Alamo.' 

" '  Ha,  ha !'  said  Fra  Christino,  '  we  must  look  into  this  nest  of  serpents ' 

"  '  Silence  !'  roared  Jurata  like  a  bull ;  '  Aparelhos  can't  help  that.  He  only 
talks,  not  does.  He  gave  a  thousand  dollars  and  two  silver  candlesticks  which 
he  got  at  Guaymas  to  our  chapel,  and  he  gave  me  that  very  horse  there,  for  he 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  29 

sakl  'twas  a  shame  for  a  weak  priest  like  me  to  have  to  foot  it — and  it  was  a 
shame  on  the  Catholic  farmers  with  their  herds  of  asses,  mules  and  mustangs ! 
And  he's  always  hospitable,  and  fetches  out  first-class  wines  to  his  guests,  if 
they  are  unworthy  sons  of  the  true  faith  like  humble  Padre  Jurata !'  says  our 
old  leader,  smacking  his  lips. 

"  '  But  I  know  the  secret  hiding-place  of  lots  of  gold  and  silver  coin — the  old 
man's  got  ever  so  much !'  howled  Domingo,  wild  at  all  his  entreaties  being 
wasted. 

"  We  all  looked  at  one  another,"  said  Guerra,  "  and  then  at  our  reverend 
Captain.  That  last  thing  settled  it. 

"  '  Ahem  !'  coughed  Jurata.  '  Well,  my  good  Domingo,  out  with  it.  On 
second  thoughts,  no  traitor  to  the  Republic  must  be  let  escape  unpunished  under 
mistaken  ideas  of  mercy,  no  !  He  is  amassing  money  to  aid  some  grand  plot 
for  helping  the  foe,  who  can  doubt  ? 

"  '  Of  course/  cried  we  all.     '  Death  to  the  traitor  !" 

" '  Give  me  a  horse  and  anything — a  knife  even  and  let  me  join  you/  said 
Domingo. 

"  You  ?  no  impure  bloods  are  going  to  sully  our  cause  !'  answered  the  padre. 

"  '  You  refuse,  eh  V  yelled  Domingo.  '  May  the  Holy  Mother  curse  you ! 
May  her  son  send  lightning  on  you  !  may  all  the  saints " 

"  Down  came  Padre  Jurata's  machete  on  his  skull,  which  it  split,  and  he  never 
moved  again.  Christino  had  nearly  got  his  arm  taken  off  in  trying  to  bar  the 
blow. 

"  '  Curse  him  !7  he  couldn't  help  swearing,  '  he's  carried  the  secret  of  the 
cache  with  him." 

"So  he  had.  But  we,  thinking  that  no  one  better  than  we  could  hunt  up  gold 
and  valuables,  sprang  to  horse  and  rattled  off  to  St.  Mary  of  Leon's  Butte,  on 
which  Aparelhos'  house  was  built.  We  reached  it  in  half  an  hour,  pretty  well 
scratched  from  going  through  the  chapparel  at  such  a  pace.  When  we  ham 
mered  at  the  big  gate,  one  of  the  young  men  came  out. 

"  (The  peons,  I  ought  to  tell  you,  were  away  from  the  house  in  their  dwelling, 
and  they  left  for  the  thicket,  when  we  began  to  work). 

"  '  Who's  there  ?'  challenged  the  son.     We  told  him,  when  he  said  we  might 

be  d d,  and  back  he  went  into  the  house.     They  had  been  reconnoitering 

from  the  upper  windows,  we  could  see.  We  surrounded  the  place,  heaping  up 
the  brush  and  lots  of  torchwood  at  the  gates,  which  we  burnt  through.  There 
was  a  black  and  a  couple  of  servants  in  the  house  who  fought  for  their  master, 
especially  after  old  Aparelhos  had  blown  the  brains  out  of  one  of  them  who  had 
tried  to  jump  out  of  the  window.  Afraid  of  fighting  at  anything  but  close 
quarters,  for  the  three  Americans,  as  I  call  them,  were  blasted  fine  shots,  we 
charged  in  two  parties,  front  and  rear.  I  was  in  the  latter  division,  which  Ju 
rata  led.  We  smashed  in  a  window  by  exploding  a  horn  of  powder  at  it. 

"  The  first  of  us  who  jumped  through  was  cut  into  four  neat  quarters  by  the 
old  rascal's  cavalry  sword.  He  nearly  stuck  the  old  reverend  next,  but  I  push 
ed  Dormeli  Punez  at  him  and  he  ran  him  through  by  mistake.  We  had  a  lively 
flurry  in  the  dark,  but  no  more  of  us  were  killed.  We  had  to  tumble  back  out 
of  the  window. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  Christino  had  better  luck.  He  had  been  beaten  back  but 
he  brought  out  with  him  one  of  the  sons  prisoner,  and  had  killed  the  three  men 
servants  as  well  as  the  wife.  We  tried  a  rush  once  more,  no  go.  We  waited 
for  an  hour  or  two,  till  we  had  a  lot  of  wood  collected  and  made  a  monstrous 
fire  in  front,  leaving  a  few  to  keep  a  look  out  there.  So  under  the  couple  of 
windows  each  side.  When  the  flames  began  to  rise  and  drive  the  two  men,  left 
to  our  side,  we  made  our  third  attempt  and  dragged  out  them  both.  The  son 
was  dead,  the  father  only  stunned  with  a  head  wound. 

"  Then  we  began  to  cry  out  that  we  wouldn't  hurt  anybody  who  surrendered. 
Out  came  the  camerosta,  a  luscious  slip  of  a  girl — delicious  !  Donna  Mayolina 


Jflayitin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California}; 


appeared  at  the  broken  window  in  the  light,  for  half  the  front  of  the  building 
was  burning  merrily  now.  We  called  her  to  come,  but  her  father  who  had 
come  to  life  and  recovered  his  voice,  spoilt  all  by  shouting  : 

"  '  No,  no  !  they  lie  !  Join,  join  your  dead  mother,  murdered  by  them  !' 

"  We  were  going  to  strike  him  dead  for  this,  but  Jurata  wouldn't  allow  it  ; 
one  of  us  did  tap  him  with  the  flat  of  his  sword,  and  he  swooned  again.  His  son 
looked  on  with  set  teeth  and  eyes  like  coals. 

"  The  burning  house  looked  like  a  skeleton  one,  with  the  blaze  at  the  front, 
and  illumined  the  sky,  but  none  of  the  far-off  neighbors  cared  to  come.  Well 
for  'em.  The  heat  made  us  fall  back.  Suddenly  the  girl  appealed  on  the  up 
per  roof,  up  which  she  had  to  run  as  up  a  hill,  for  it  had  fallen  in  at  the  other 
end  some  few  feet.  God  !  wasn'fc  she  pretty,  handsome,  splendid,  standing  up 
in  that  red  and  yellow  brightened  air  ! 

"  '  I  remember  !  and  I,  and  I  !'  said  one  or  two.  '  Guerra's  telling  it  just  as 
it  was  !' 

"Her  hair  flying  loose  in  wild  disorder,  her  robe  torn  and  dishevelled, 
showed  her  beautiful  figure,  almost  like  a  marble  statue.  Such  a  lovely 
form  as  that  girl  possessed  we  had  never  before  gazed  on. 

"  Seen  too  in  that  brilliant,  dazzling  light,  she  looked  more  like  some  angel 
alighting  from  the  skies  than  a  mere  mortal  girl.  I  never  saw  the  like." 

The  excitable  and  excited  auditors  listened,  holding  their  breath  and  fastening 
their  flashing  eyes  on  Guerra. 

"  There  she  stood  like  a  new  kind  of  statue.  We  could  not  stir  for  a  mo 
ment,  when  the  same  idea  of  saving  her  impelled  half  a  dozen  of  us  to  run  into 
the  heated  air  and  hold  out  a  horse  blanket.  And  we  shouted  above  the  hissing, 
crackling,  roaring  of  the  accursed  flames  - 

"  '  Jump  down,  senorita,  for  the  love  of  God  !'  interrupted  several,  those  who 
had  been  witnesses  with  Guerra  of  the  scene  which  he  narrated.  '  Yes,  yes.' 

"  Yes,  those  were  the  words,"  said  Guerra.  "  She  hesitated.  The  tongues  of 
fire  darted  up  behind  her  higher  and  thicker  than  ever.  We  shouted  again. 
She  turned  coolly  round,  and  we  thought  we  saw  her  bright  eyes  fill  with  tears 
which  ran  down  her  doubly  scorching  cheeks,  as  she  looked  her  last  on  our 
prisoners.  Her  last,  for  the  next  moment  she  sprang  into  the  very  core  of  all 
that  immense  bowl  of  devil's  punch.  We  thought  that  the  fire  danced  more 
merrily  than  before,  anyhow  that's  where  she  ended  her  life  and  destroyed  all 
her  beauteous  form." 

The  enthusiastic  hearers  murmured  in  Spanish  words  of  pity,  such  as  :  "  Poor 
girl  —  poor  maiden.  May  Our  Lady  have  her  !"  for  they  forgot  the  attending 
circumstances  to  place  all  their  interest  on  the  central  figure.  There  was  a 
pause,  no  one  breaking  the  spell  by  either  eating  or  drinking.  Finally,  one 
spoke  up  : 

"  The  rest,  Guerra.     What  more  ?" 

"  Ah,  yes.  Well,  the  brother  of  the  girl,  who  had  been  watching  her  in  hor 
ror,  fell  down  and  we  could  not  awaken  him  any  more  than  we  could  his  father. 
They  were  not  dead  however.  Jurata,  who  had  not  forgotten  the  treasure  of 
which  Domingo  had  said  so  much,  turned  sharply  on  the  camerista,  and  asked 
her  where  her  master  kept  his  money  hidden.  She  did  not  know,  or  would 
not  tell,  whichever  it  was.  Jurata  gave  orders,  and  off  ran  Juan  Moliti  to  the 
stables,  from  which  he  brought  back  a  horse's  nose-bag." 

"  '  You  won't  tell  ?  very  well,'  said  the  padre.     '  Go  ahead  Juan.' 

"  Juan  collected  a  couple  of  handfuls  in  quantity  of  the  half  burnt  cinders 
that  were  rained  down  near  us,  and  put  them  in  the  bag,  which  had  a  bottom 
too  thick  to  be  easily  burnt  through.  Then  he  tied  the  bag  over  the  mouth  of  the 
girl,  after  Jurata  had  asked  her  again,  saying  he  was  sorry  to  spoil  a  pretty 
bird's  singing.  The  girl  could  draw  a  little  fresh  air  through  her  nose,  but  hex 
mouth  took  in  the  scorching  smoke  from  tne  bag,  of  course. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  31 

"  She  began  to  twist  and  fight  so  that  four  of  us  could  hardly  hold  her.     Her 
poor  little  bosom   gave  a  couple  of  heaves  and  she  worked  her  lirnbs  so  furi 
ously  that  we  let  go.     She  stood  reeling  for  a  moment,  threw  up  her  arms — 
the  bag  falling  off — and  gave   a  dreadful  cough.      Blood  poured    out  of  her 
mouth,  and  she  sank  as  if  a  mesquite  had  -fallen  upon  her. 

"  '  Curses  she's  dead  without  having  spoken  !'  raged  the  reverend  chief. 

" '  Good  !'  broke  in  old  Aparelhos,  who  had  come  to. 

"  '  Who  said  that  ¥  bellowed  Jurata,  turning.  '  Ah,  ha  !  you've  found  your 
tongue  again.  I've  been  thinking  how  to  make  you  speak.  Will  you  tell  us 
where  you  keep  your  treasure  ? 

"  '  My  treas ' 

"  '  Yes,  Domingo  has  let  us  into  the  secret  of  it — at  least  of  the  being  cue. 
Come,  out  \vith  it.' 

"  '  Give  one  dollar  to  you,  you — you  !'  and  I  don't  know  what  he  did  not  call 
us.  i  Do  your  worst,  you  shan't  learn.' 

"  Jurata  Avhispered  to  somebody,  Moretos  the  younger,  I  believe,  but  that 
does  not  matter,"  said  Guerra,  "  and  he  tore  the  scarf  of  the  dead  cameresta  in 
to  strips,  which  he  wound  ground  every  finger  of  the  American's  right  hand  just 
as  if  you  were  going  to  bind  up  a  broken  arm.  And  he  was  most  securely 
pinioned. 

" '  Will  you  tell  V 

" '  I'll  see  you  all  in  the  hell's  flames  sure  to  be  your  portion  first ;'  cried  old 
Aparelhos  doggedly. 

"  Old  Father  Jurata  took  the  bottle  of  oil  from  Moretos,  who  was'our  sur 
geon  for  the  horses  and  who  had  been  to  his  saddJebags  for  it,  and  pomed  it  on 
the  bound  up  hand,  the  cloth  on  which  soaked  it  up  like  a  cayman  in  heat  drink 
ing  a  brooklet  dry.  Then  a  branch  of  torchwood  was  lighted  and  brought  and 
the  hand  was  set  afire  !  The  old  heretic  stood  it  for  it  for  a  couple  of  minutes, 
but  then  began  to  howl.  But  he  kept  shouting  out : 

"'That's  from  the  agony,  God  d you,  but  (gritting  his  teeth)  I  won't 

speak.' 

"  As  his  hand  burnt  up  like  a  big  church  candle  before  the  siirine  of  Our 
Lady  the  Queen  of  the  Angels,  the  old  American  yelled  and  Wwled,  he  cursed 
us  in  English,  Indian  and  Spanish,  till  his  son  was  roused  by  the  jtioise,  and,  find 
ing  he  could  not  get  loose,  for  he  was  wound  round  with  a  reata,  and  rawhide 
may  give  but  it  won't  break,  he  called  out : 
•  "  '  Father,  dear  father  !  Oh,  let  the  old  man  go  and  roast  rne  instead.' 

"  '  Will  you  tell  where  the  riches  are  ?'  asked  the  Padre. 

"  He  looked  at  his  father. 

"  '  No,'  says  the  old  American,  '  they'll  have  their  devil's  sport  anyhow.' 

"  '  See  you  skinned  first,'  answered  the  young  fellow. 

"  '  Give  him  a  handsome  glove,'  says  Jurata  laughing,  '  they're  so  much  alike 
we  had  better  mate  them.' 

"  So  the  two  hands  blazed  together.  I've  been  hard  up  "on  the  sands  and  have 
had  to  chew  dead  mulesteak  a  little  touched  and  smelling,"  said  Guerra,  "  but 
I  was  sick  like  the  rest,  at  the  damnable  stench  of  that  burning  flesh.  They 
twisted  and  groaned,  but  we  could  not  get  one  word  out  of  them.  We  flourish 
ed  knives  and  machettes  under  their  eyes  and  jammed  escopette  muzzles  against 
their  teeth  but  no  use.  At  last  Jurata  had  them  run  up  to  the  boughs  of  a  tree, 
and  we  with  empty  hands  had  to  turn  our  backs  on  the  ruins  of  the  house.  Oh, 
the  good  old  times,"  ending  the  ex-guerrilla,  sighing.  "  I  don'c  feel  well  to  think 
it's  all  over." 

"  Maybe  our  countrymen  will  give  the  Yankees  a  strong  taste  of  the  same  in 
this  state  yet,"  observed  some  one. 

"  Maybe.     But  here's  Jack.     And  not  alone." 

The  three-fingered  freebooter  indeed  made  his  appearance,  driving  before  him 


32  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

eight  Chinese,  complete  in  pig-tail,  frock,  loose  breeches  and  cheap  boots.  They 
had  been  trembling  violently  enough  already,  but  when  they  saw  themselves  in 
the  presence  of  a  large  body  of  armed  men,  they  tumbled  down  on  their  knees 
and  begged  for  mercy  in  the  worst  of  mixed  Spanish  and  English,  but  which 
Nvas  extremely  expressive  from  their  pitiable  tone.  Their  earnest  entreaties, 
now  in  full  rolling  of  the  almond  eyes,  and  active  gestures,  only  excited  the  hi 
larity  of  the  whole  band,  who  made  the  place  ring  with  unrestrained  bursts  of 
merriment. 

Jack  ordered  the  Orientals,  by  means  of  blended  threats  and  pantomime  to 
change  their  position  from  standing,  to  setting  on  the  rocks  a  few  feet  from  the 
fire.  This  command  was  executed  with  prompt  obedience,  after  which  Jack  flour 
ished  his  knife  over  the  heads  of  the  line  by  way  of  intimation  that  if  they  moved 
an  eyebrow  or  the  tips  of  their  queues,  he  would  cut  their  heads  off.  He  resum 
ed,  with  as  good  an  appetite  as  anybody  could  boast,  his  meal  on  the  crackers 
and  sardines. 

"  Mi  amigo  Jack,  my  friend,"  inquired  Joaquin,  "  whence  that  blood,  still 
fresh  I  should  say,  that  I  see  on  your  dagger's  blade  ?" 

"  Oh,  that  spatter  there.  Why,  I  had  to  stick  one  of  these  funny  Johns  to 
explain  my  meaning  to  the  rest.  As  soon  as  they  saw  that  one  of  their  blessed 
crowd  kissed  the  ground  and  stayed  there,  one  of  them,  turning  as  reasonable 
as  could  be,  took  the  head  of  the  file  and  the  rest  trotted  along  after  him  like 
Santa  Fe  sheep.  That's  how  I  made  out  to  fetch  them  so  far." 

"  Well,  now  that  you've  got  them,  what  good  are  they  going  to  be  to  any 
body?" 

"  Why,  they're  too  much  like  sheep  not  to  be  bled,  the  same  way." 
"  You'd  better  hurry  up  your  cakes,  then,"  said  Felix.     "  They're  half  way 
to  Mono  Lake  (the  dead  sea  of  California)  already." 

"  Oh,  they  can  wait,"  returned  the  semi-cannibal,  darting  on  the  captives  so 
significant  a  look  that  they  began  mumbling  something  to  Joss.  "  I  brought 
them  here  to  amuse  the  company,  but  I'm  going  to  fill  the  barrel  of  my  body 
with  a  charge  of  soda  crackers  and  a  wad  of  sardines  before  I  open  the  show.  I 
think  the  Yankees  are  right  in  one  idea  of  theirs  :  *  Business  before  pleasure.'  " 
A  quarter  of  an  hour  elapsed  in  the  consumption  of  the  eatables  by  the 
speaker  and  of  tobacco  with  the  others.  Then  the  former  sprang  up  and  to  the 
poor  Chinese,  seven  of  whom  he  drew  together  by  their  tails  and  made  a  new 
sort  of  a  wheel  of  them  by  tying  them  all  together.  He  grabbed  the  separate 
victim  by  the  long  braid  as  well  and  hauled  him  backwards  and  nearly  stum 
bling  up  to  the  fire.  The  bandits  jumped  up. 

"  Stop,  stop,  Jack  !"  shouted  several.  "  You  ain't  going  to  make  cracknels 
of  them,  blast  you  1  Guerra's  been  story-telling  enough  of  that  without  our 
wanting  the  real.  Don't !  a  fellow  can't  keep  his  supper  down  with  a  frying 
Chinese  to  look  at." 

"  No,  no,  I  only  lugged  him  here  to  let  the  light  fall  on  him." 
Out  came  Jack's  knife  then,  to  be  plunged  up  to  the  buckhorn  haft  in  the 
heart  of  the  luckless  devil.  The  dying  man  wrestled  with  his  murderers  for  a 
second,  when  the  latter  flung  him  off.  The  body  fell  beside  the  fire,  and  a 
thick  stream  of  blood,  by  the  shock,  gushed  out  of  the  horrible  gash  and  put  out 
the  flames. 

"  Carajo  !"  swore  one  Mexican,  "  you've  spotted  my  jacket !" 
"  Caramba  !  maldita  !  the  fire's  a  goner." 
Joaquin  stepped  up. 

"  Enough  of  that,  Jack !  I  won't  stand  any  such  wantonness.  Kill  'em  all 
at  once  where  they  are,  and  make  no  bones  about  it." 

"  Oh,  all  right,  captain,  just  as  you  say,  I  thought  the  boys  wanted  some 
sport,  but  I'll  have  all  the  fun  to  myself  now." 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  33 

So  saying,  he  dragged  the  corpse  to  one  side,  let  it  drop  and  went  over  to 
the  shuddering  remainder. 

Without  being  in  the  least  moved  by  their  yells,  screams,  prayers,  weeping 
he  stabbed  some  and  cut  the  throats  of  others  most  leisurely. 

Before  the  first  one  had  been  butchered,  the  three  women  had  pulled  their 
blanket-shawls  over  their  heads  so  as  not  to  behold  the  horrible  affair. 

They  might  have  applauded  the  bull  who  gored  a  toreador  in  a  fight,  the 
man  who  brought  down  his  opponent  at  sword's  points  or  short  pistol-range, 
but  they  hated  and  were  disgusted  to  be  tacit  accomplices  in  the  slaughter  of 
the  unfortunate  descendants  of  the  builders  of  the  Great  Wall  which  they  were 
wrong  to  have  passed. 

Clarina,  who  was  seated  by  her  lover,  overheard  him  give  the  order  for  the 
despatching  of  the  prisioners ;  moved  by  a  deep  feeling  of  compassion,  she 
wished  to  try  to  shield  from  cruelty  those  who  yet  survived. 

Without  uncovering  her  face,  she  let  fall  her  head  on  the  robber's  shoulder, 
and  said  in  a  tremulous  voice  : 

"  Oh,  Joaquin,  why  won't  you  prevent  that  awful  massacre,  so  useles,  of 
harmless  men  1  Hear  their  despairing  cries  !  You  can — won't  you  hold  back 
the  wretch's  hand  1" 

"My  dearly  loved  girl,  that's  what  I  cannot  do.  Garcia  is  cruel  and 
violent,  and  he  only  linked  his  fortune  to  mine  to  satisfy  his  dreadful  thirst  for 
blood ;  but  he  is  brave  and  does  not  know  what  danger  is,  so  that  it  would  be  a 
great  loss  for  me  to  have  to  part  with  him." 

"  Are  they  beyond  hope,  poor  things,  then  T'  murmured  Clarina. 

"  Yes.  Tin  sorry  in  the  bottom  of  my  heart  for  it.  Hark  !  There  are  only 
two  voices  to  be  heard  now — Only  one — it  dies  away  with  its  owner.  There, 
the  whole  woik  of  blood  is  ended.  They  suffer  no  longer,  poor  fools  for  ever 
having  crossed  the  Pacific." 

"  By  all  the  saints,"  ejaculated  the  bloody-handed  murderer,  falling  on  a 
bunch  of  grass  and  his  blanket  by  the  rekindled,  fire,  "  if  this  isn't  a  red-letter 
night  on  my  books,  shoot  me  !  Those  funny  dogs  resisted  just  enough  to  put 
an  edge  to  it.  One  fellow  scratched  me  and  kicked  beau-tiful !  Oh,  San  Mi 
guel,  Santa  Antonina,  let  me  have  another  such  a  treat  and  I'll  walk  to  Cuba  and 
be  joyfully  garotted !" 

At  daybreak,  the  party  set  out  again.  Notwithstanding  the  tragedy  of  the 
preceeding  night,  all  were  heart  free  and  gay  enough  in  looking  forward  to  a 
long  quiet  stay  at  their  principal  retreat.  The  females  especially  felt  the  good 
effects  ot  the  exchange  from  the  terrors  of  the  gloomy  eve  in  the  forest,  to  the 
serene  and  brilliant  dawn  in  the  more  open,  sunlit  land. 

They  galloped  on  lightly  besicTe  Joaquin  and  Felix,  a  little  in  advance  ol  the 
main  body,  chatting  to  drive  away  whatever  \vas  troublesome  in  their  minds. 
Every  now  and  anon  they  would  dart  on  in  a  mock-severe  chase  of  a  quail,  who 
dropping  its  proudly-lifted  plume  on  its  beak,  would  skurry  along  near  the 
ground  like  a  "  road-runner"  until,  rising  suddenly,  good-bye  to  anything 
reaching  it  but  a  shot.  Clear,  silvery  peals  of  laughter  rang  out  on  the  sono 
rous  air,  and  snatches  of  song  emulated  the  birds  awakening,  while  the  smiles 
added  fresh  charms  to  the  countenances  of  the  young  women,  and  made  their 
eyes  sparkle  still  more  brightly. 

After  several  successive  halts  the  band  arrived  at  length  at  Arroyo  Cantuva. 
What  was  the  joy  of  that  young  prince  of  pillagers  at  view  of  the  spectacle 
1  extremely  grateful  to  a  horse-stealer's  eyes,  that  was  visible  in  the  valley. 

There  were  more  than  a  thousand  horses,  grazing  in  herbage  which  brushed 
their  tallies  with  the  high  tops  or  leaping  about  with  floating  mane  and  tail 
land  smoking  nostrils  through  the  wild  oats  and  over  the  clover. 

The  stallions  were  already  forming  their  manadas  of  a  few  mares  unavoid* 

3 


34  Joaguin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California); 

bly  taken  in  the  mass,  and  every  little  while  a  vaquero  would  have  to  push  his 
korse  into  the  press  and  lash  the  horses  about  to  fight. 

The  whole  formed  a  sort  of  patchwork ;  the  grass  for  groundwork  and  the  va 
riegated  animals  for  embroidery,  almost  all  being  "  calico"  or  "paint"  horses,  dun, 
cream-colored,  mouse-colored,  black,  streaked,  speckled,  spotted,  white,  stock- 
ing'd  and  nose'd. 

A  cluster  of  tents,  white  as  the  snow  on  Shasta's  summit,  was  glistening  un 
der  the  evergreen  madrona.  Which  proved  that  the  plundering  detachment 
had  not  only  faithfully  carried  out  their  instructions,  but  were  on  the  spot  to 
receive  further  orders. 

The  new  arrivals  raised  the  well-known  shout  which  signalled  their  approach, 
and  all  made  for  the  canvass  camp  at  headlong  speed,  where  they  dismounted . 

They  were  immediately  surrounded  by  Valenzuela,  Cardoza  and  a  portion  01 
their  followers,  of  whom  the  remainder  were  off  on  a  hunt. 

After  mutual  compliments  and  felicitations  exchanged,  the  horses  were  un 
harnessed  and  turned  into  graze  with  the  others. 

The  riders  rolled  off  on  the  gtfass  to  enjoy  the  repose  so  necessary  to  them. 

They  had  slept  as  only  men  can  sleep  who  have  gone  at  the  full  speed  of 
California  steeds,  who  do  not  know  what  pacing  or  a  fast  trot  or  any  interme 
diate  pace  is,  for  five  hours  or  so,  when  they  were  aroused  for  supper. 

The  hunters  had  returned  at  nightfall  well  supplied  with  game. 

A  large  fire  had  been  made  and  from  it  rose  the  delicious  emanations  of  bears- 
meat  and  birds. 

Quails  and  grouse,  and  .a  few  robins,  spitted  on  twigs  stuck  in  the  ground, 
hissed  daintily  and  sputtered  before  the  embers ;  on  the  edge  of  the  heap  of 
coals  simmered  the  contents  of  large  iron  camp-kettles  full  of  that  herb  used 
ofttimes  in  the  old  days  of  El  Dorado  for  tea ;  a  little  further  off,  on  a  hundred 
and  more  huge  leaves  were  spread  out  as  apologies  for  cloths  on  which  again 
set  tin  plates  (bright,  though  old,  for  California!!  air  will  not  rust  things,  as  other 
countries),  bearing  portions  of  Mexican  compounds  and  such  "  unconsidered 
trifles"  picked  up  from  ravaged  districts  as  Baltimore  pickled  oysters,  New  York 
lobsters,  jellies  and  truit. 

Apples  and  pears  from  the  famous  San  Jose  Mission  Orchard  were  side  by 
side  with  their  mates,  plucked  by  Yankee  girls  in  the  Bay  and  the  Green  Moun 
tain  States  shipped  in  a  California  clipper  by  the  stevedores  of  the  Empire  City, 
and  after  rounding  the  awful  Cape,  rolled  out  of  the  side  lading-port  on  San 
Franciscan  shores. 

Beside  each  plate  was  more  or  less  temptingly  set  a  tin  cup,  a  bundle  of  ci 
gars  or  a  packet  of  cigarettes,  and  a  bottle  of  wine,  whose  hue  as  red  as  the 
honeybud  that  a  bee  might  choose  to  sleep  in,  glittered  alluringly  through  the 
transparent  prison-walls. 

The  whole  formed  a  display  which  no  sharp-set  marauder  would  have  sneezed 
at. 

On  a  signal  given  by  the  cook :  "  Pitch  in,  boys,  and  never  mind  us  !"  the 
famished  crew  took  up  positions  as  best  agreed  with  their  tastes  and  went  to  work 
as  if  the  banquet  was  a  bank  of  good  yielding  earth  and  they  so  many  hydrau 
lic  pipes  aimed  to  wash  it  away.  They  did  wash  it  down. 

The  seat  of  honor  was  occupied  by  the  Chief  of  the  Coyotes  and  his  Clarina. 

On  his  right  hand  was.  Reynardo  Felix  and  his  mistress  the  charming  Marga 
rita  ;  to  the  left  Juan  Cardoza  and  the  pretty  Mariquita. 

This  latter  had  for  some  time  worn  mourning  for  her  former  lover,  the  Gon 
zalez  so  summarily  dislodged  from  his  high  eminence  in  the  gallery  of  rogues 
El  Doradian  by  Captain  Harry  Love,  and  had  settled  her  choice  on  Cardoza. 

Her  love  for  gay  colors  had  gained  her  the  nickname  of  Mariposa  (the  But 
terfly)  already,  which  was  confirmed  by  her  thus  flitting  from  the  dead  flower  to 
the  blooming  one. 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  33 

Laughs  went  up  more  befitting  a  Montgomery  street  negro  minstrel  hall  than 
a  Parisian  drawing-room,  let  us  say,  but  the  upper  end  of  the  table  was  more 
select  and  the  lowered  tones  there  compared  to  the  rougher  voices  below,  was 
as  a  cooing  of  doves  to  the  growling  of  grizly  cubs  boxing,  dancing  and  at  play 
together. 

Supper  was  finished,  and  conversation  was  rattling  on,  when  the  signal  arose 
again. 

A  score  of  men  dashed  up  as  fast  as  their  jaded  beasts  could  go,  Mountain 
Jim  at  their  head. 

Room  was  made  for  them.  The  cooks  went  to  their  work  once  more,  and 
the  later  comers  plied  knife  and  fingers,  while  receiving  the  warm  congratula 
tions  of  their  comrades. 

These  recruits  were  natives  of  Chili,  Peru  and  Sonora,  who  had  been  got  to 
gether  by  one  of  Joaquin's  best  friends,  Fernando  Fontes,  who  had  accompa 
nied  them  to  the  rallying  place. 

They  brought,  as  a  kind  of  tribute  for  their  welcome,  seventy  to  seventy-five 
horses  (without  their  true  owners,  of  course),  and  Jim  announced  that  two  hun 
dred  more  were  corralled  in  the  San  Francisco  Rancho  which  would  be  driven 
to  this  retreat  during  the  coming  week. 

The  talk,  thus  for  the  time  being  interrupted,  went  on  again  briskly  as  be 
fore,  the  new-comers  being  regaled  with  stories  of  which  the  "  immoral"  was  a 
lesson  for  their  future  exploits. 

Elegant  romancing  and  incredible  yarns  succeeded  one  another,  and  the 
whole  company  would  have  had  to  have  been  credited  with  greatly  thinning 
out  the  population  if  the  chronicles  of  crime  were  believed  in. 

In  the  interludes  of  hangings,  flayings,  burnings,  shootings  and  stabbings,  one 
of  the  girls  would  sing  some  melody  which  from  its  excesssive  sweetness  had 
some  effect  for  the  moment  on  the  steel-hearts. 

All  at  once,  the  general  gladness  was  violently  broken  into  by  a  quarrel  that 
arose  between  Three-fingered  Jack  and  Mountain  Jim. 

The  thing  was  serious  enough,  as  the  reader  will  see. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE     OUTBREAK. JACK    PUTS     HIS    FOOT    DOWN    AND    JIM    HAS    A    CLOSE     8HAVB. — 

FRENCHMEN     AND    MORE     CHINESE. LOS    ANGELOS     LYNCHES     FELIX,    AND 

HIS    GIRL    GOES    TO    JOIN    HIM. JIM    AND    JACK    PART    COMPANY. 

BLOOD    IN    THE    MERCED. 

THE  Mexican  had  formally  laid  down  a  new  law  of  his,  thus : 

"  I'll  never  let  one  of  these  cursed  Yankees  put  foot  in  the  head-quarters  here 
and  be  let  into  the  secrets  of  the  band  !" 

On  which  declaration  the  rupture  between  the  two  aforesaid  had  resulted. 

Mountain  Jim,  who  represented  in  himself  alone  the  element  mentioned,  g©t 
up  on  his  feet,  swallowed  his  last  bite  leisurely  and  replied  bluntly : 

"  That  cock  won't  fight.  I'm  an  American  by  birth,  but  I'm  Mexican  in 
heart,  and  you  may  all  be  sure  that  I  have  all  the  more  interest  in  upholding 
the  party  by  the  fact  that  I  don't  come  to  you  only  to  be  a  butcher  !" 

"  If  you  mean  me  by  that,"  retorted  Garcia,  "  you  lie,  and  you're  a  coward 
if  you  don't  freeze  to  it !" 

At  the  same  time,  the  robber  drew  his  revolver.  To  see  him  rolling  his 
tiger's  eyes  and  frowning  with  his  black  brows,  like  the  lightning  and  thunder 
on  Mont  Diablo,  and  to  see  his  whole  face  of  a  devil  borne  out  in  its  fiendish 


36  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  / 

promises  by  his  gigantic  limbs,  it  would  take  a  stout  heart  to  look  at  him  twice 
before  in  going  in  opposition  to  him. 

But  the  other  was  not  a  man,  as  he  might  have  said  himself,  to  be  bluffed 
off  with  big  looks. 

At  the  word  "  coward"  he  had  grasped  his  revolver,  and  he  was  so  quick  that 
he  might  have  had  the  first  shot,  but  Joaquin  had  risen  and  in  his  sternest,  most 
imperious  voice,  ordered  both  of  the  antagonists  to  "  down  with  their  arms" 
and  have  no  more  brawling. 

"  That's  agreeable,"  answered  the  mountain  man.  "Pm  willing  to  obey  my 
leader's  word,  though  I  don't  care  a  dime." 

"  Stop  a  bit,"  muttered  Jack.  "  I  ain't  no  Jackass-rabbit  to  have  long  enough 
ears  to  hear  all  orders " 

Crack  !  went  his  pistol. 

But  it  was  one  of  the  new  volunteers,  who  had  had  the  ill  luck  to  be  next  to 
Jim,  and  who  had  leaped  up  to  fall  instantly,  mortally  wounded.  One  loud 
shout  broke  forth. 

As  if  moved  by  the  same  spring,  every  man  was  standing,  and  all  the  weapons 
were  leveled  at  or  held  against  the  slayer,  ready  to  prevent  his  ever  again  dis 
obeying  the  chief. 

"No  !"  said  the  latter,  stretching  out  his  hand.  "  Jim Luis,  all,  down 

with  the  arms !" 

The  order  was  obeyed  at  the  word,  but  all  eyes  were  bent  nevertheless  on 
Garcia.  He,  standing,  revolver  in  hand  and  finger  inside  the  trigger-ring,  eyed 
his  leader  with  an  air  of  indifference.  The  silver  mounting  of  the  latter's  pistol 
glittered  in  the  rays  of  the  fire  as  it  bore  upon  the  rebel,  while,  with  an  angry 
look  and  a  voice  of  rage,  Joaquin  said  : 

"  Jack,  you've  disobeyed  your  leader,  and  have  not  only  rebelled  openly  but 
have  added  the  murder  of  one  of  your  comrades  to  your  misdeed.  And  the 
slain  man  is  not  only  the  one  with  whom  you  were  not  concerned  but  was  one 
who  was  an  utter  stranger  to  you.  You  have  earned  death,  and  I'll  show  you 
that  I  am  a  better  marksman  than  you." 

"  Dead  shot  or  not,  Joaquin,"  replied  Garcia,  dropping  his  weapon  and  open 
ing  with  both  hands  his  shirt  to  lay  bare  his  breast,  "  I  ain't  scared.  Blaze 
away,  I'm  ready." 

As  he  was  defying  the  shot,  a  little  hand  glided  round  upon  the  superior's 
pistol  arm,  and  the  sweet  voice  of  Clarina  murmured  gently  in  his  ear. 

"  Pardon  him,  Joaquin,  I  entreat  you." 

For  a  space,  the  would-be  executioner-judge  was  indecisive,  but,  at  length  let 
ting  the  muzzle  of  his  revolver  droop,  he  said  : 

"  Garcia,  I  can't  bring  myself  to  kill  you.  You're  too  fearless  to  leave  the 
world  so,  and  though  your  bravery  is  next  door  to  barbarity  because  you  were 
born  so  and  cannot  master  your  desires " 

"  Yes,  yes,  he  can't  help  it !"  cried  at  the  same  time  a  number  of  the  despe 
radoes,  who,  full  of  admiration  at  the  wretch's  coolness,  had  already  forgotten 
his  crime. 

The  corpse  was  pitched  into  a  hole  somewhere,  peace  was  proclaimed,  and 
the  jollity  went  on  more  uproariously  than  ever. 

After  a  night  of  such  revelry,  Joaquin  despatched  Antonio  and  Guerra,  the 
latter  at  the  head  of  his  division,  into  the  State  of  Sonora  with  fifteen  hundred 
head  of  cattle.  He  himself  turned  towards  San  Luis  Obispo,  with  Valenzuela, 
Felix,  Cardoza,  Mountain  Jim,  Three-fingers  and  the  three  women. 

On  the  ensuing  day  as  they  were  jogging  along  a  rough  pathway  in  the  moun 
tains,  they  caught  sight  of  a  couple  of  French  miners  who  had  crept  into  one 
cave  of  the  many  to  eat  their  breakfast  or  dinner — whichever  it  was — under 
shelter  from  the  sun. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  37 

"  Pm  'a-thiuking,"  remarked  Garcia  playing  with  his  dagger,  "  It  would  be  a 
good  notion  to  test  their  pockets." 

"  Very  well,  go  on,"  answered  the  captain,  "  but  remember,  no  blood  spilling.** 

The  next  minute  the  cutthroat  was  confronting  the  two  men  and  in  a  voice  of 
thunder  ordering  them  to  "  shell  out  or  he'd  make  sausage-meat  out  of  them." 

The  blazing  eyes  of  the  bandit,  the  business-like  way  in  which  he  measured 
with  his  steel,  and  his  ferocious  mien,  spoke  clearly  enough  for  the  seriousness  of 
his  threat. 

So  the  poor  Gauls  hurriedly  unbuckled  their  chamois-leather  belts  and  trans 
ferred  them  to  the  robber,  who  emptied  them  hastily. 

"  D you  for  a  brace  of  frog-eating  swindlers.  Money  must  be  scarce  as 

thunder  for  you  pair  to  have  only  forty  dollars  worth  of  wire  gold  a-tween  you." 

In  a  moment,  he  fell  upon  the  unfortunate  devils,  cut  their  throats  and  left 
them  in  the  cave  which  became  their  grave. 

The  outlaw  commander  saw  them  fall  bathed  in  blood  from  where  he  and 
the  rest  had  pulled  up  to  wait,  but  he  contented  himself  with  grumbling  and 
rode  on. 

As  it  came  on  sunset,  the  party  reached  a  narrow  canon  on  which,  stiffened  in 
death,  two  Chinese  and  a  third  not  far  from  the  same  condition. 

Some  of  the  miners,  full  of  the  feeling  which — years  after  remaining  the 
same — does  not  permit  the  poor  Orientals  to  work  near  Europeans,  had  doubt 
lessly  fallen  in  with  them  and  been  their  death,  for  their  awful  wounds  were 
made  by  some  such  blunt-.pointed  tools  as  pick-axes. 

The  one  still  breathing,  though  his  wound  was  not  mortal  in  itself,  would 
have  certainly  expired  in  a  few  days  from  the  absence  of  proper  medical  as 
sistance. 

On  seeing  the  troop  pass  by,  the  suffering  victim  lifted  his  head  and  in  a  weak 
but  affecting  accent,  and  with  a  look  which  should  have  wrung  pity  from  the 
most  stony  of  hearts,  made  out  to  gasp  a  few  words  of  supplication. 

"  No  use  for  us  to  stop,"  said  Joaquin,  "  the  poor  devil's  in  a  state  past  any 
help  that  we  can  give  him." 

On  happening  to  turn  a  moment  afterwards  in  his  saddle,  the  speaker  perceiv 
ed  Garcia,  who  had  jumped  off  his  horse  and  run  back  to  the  dying  man,  pierc 
ing  his  already  bruised  and  bleeding  breast  with  his  dagger,  and  after  wiping 
the  smeared  blade  on  the  now  corpse's  clothes,  cut  off  the  buttons-  of  abelone 
shell  which  glittered  on  the  frock.  Then  springing-  to  horse,  he  dashed  on  into 
his  place  once  more,  pocketing  the  spoil. 

"  Jack,"  said  the  robber  king,  "  that's  your  cruelty  breaking  out  again.  Why, 
the  man  would  be  dead  in  a  couple  of  days." 

"  Cruelty,"  replied  the  butcher,  "  I  call  that  coming  the  friendly  over  him.  I 
only  wanted  to  shorten  his  misery — they're  splendid  abelones,  and  it's  hard  to 
strip  a  wounded  man." 

"  Shorten  his  pangs  by  churning  your  six  inches  of  steel  in  him.  Not  a  word 
more,  sir,  your  heart  must  be  black  as  Old  Nick's." 

On  arriving  at  the  Mission  of  San  Louis  Obispo,  Joaquin  sent  Reynardo 
to  Los  Angelos  and  Mountain  Jim  and  Three-fingered  Jack  (who  were  now  as 
thick  as  could  be  together)  to  San  Diego,  their  instructions  being  to  lay  hold  of 
all  the  horses  they  could  and  to  find  out  what  was  said  about  the  assassination 
of  Captain  Wilson  and  General  Bean. 

About  a  week  elapsed  since  the  departure  of  the  three,  when  in  came  Texas 
Jack,  a  member  of  the  association  of  marauders,  who  brought  the  news  that 
Reynardo  had  not  a  sufficiency  of  the  reynard  in  him  to  outwit  the  people  of 
Los  Angelos. 

While  he  had  been  slumbering  after  a  series  of  fatiguing  fandangoes  in  a  low 
dance-house,  he  had  been  noticed  and  recognized  by  an  Englishman  whom  he 


38  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California); 

had  robbed  along  with  other  brigands   in  the  neighborhood  of  Mokelumne 
Hill. 

Arrested  on  the  spot,  he  was  accused  of  complicity  in  the  murder  of  General 
Bean ;  although  there  was  not  evidence  to  bring  that  charge  fully  upon  him,  still 
the  attendant  proof  of  his  being  capable  of  such  an  act  was  shown  in  the  fact 
being  undisputed  of  his  being  one  of  the  ravagers  under  command  of  Joaquin. 

During  the  few  minutes  given  him  to  kiss  the  crucifix,  the  halter  was  made 
ready  and  he  took  the  leap  from  life. 

So  passed  Reynardo  Felix,  without  complaint  from  the  honest  and  peace 
able. 

His  mistress,  Margarita,  at  first  refused  to  believe  the  intelligence,  but  Val- 
enzuela,  who  presently  returned  from  Los  Angelos,  confirmed  it  officially. 

Thereupon,  drawing  the  silver  and  steel  poignard  that  she  had  the  habit  of 
carrying  in  so  rude  a  place  as  a  cutthroat's  camp  where  a  little  of  overplus  of 
liquor  might  make  the  men  forget  discipline  to  gain  a  young  and  pretty  women, 
she  plunged  it  into  her  bosom  before  anyone  could  stay  her  and  died  pronouno 
hag  her  lover's  name. 

Taking  a  trip  down  the  shaft  to  meet  Reynardo,  was  the  general  opinion 
attributing  the  destination  of  their  late  partner  to  quite  the  opposition  to 
heaven. 

This  suicide  had  not  been  quite  forgotten  when,  to  add  another  testimony  to 
die  truth  of  misfortunes  coming  Indian  file  at  one  another's  heels,  the  three-fin 
gered  brave  entered  the  camp  to  report  his  mate's  decease. 

Jack  and  the  latter  had  stepped  off  the  highway  into  a  tavern  a  few  miles 
from  San  Diego,  where  they  were  scorching  their  case-hardened  throats  with  a 
couple  of  tumblers  of  detestable  liquor,  when  a  party  of  Americans,  who  also 
entered  for  their  drinks,  began  to  regard  them  with  so  suspicious  a  manner  that 
Jack  deemed  it  prudent  to  warn  Jim  that  they  two  had  better  make  themselves 
scarce. 

But  the  red-eye  had  had  its  effect  on  the  mountain-man,  and  he  began  to 
laugh  at  his  comrade  and,  far  from  yielding  to  the  advice,  went  back  to  the 
counter  for  another  "  something  screaming  that  'd  take  the  hair  off  a  dead  red 
head  mule."  In  a  few  moments  more,  another  four  or  five  Americans  ru&hed 
hurrying  into  the  doggery  to  have  treats  of  one  of  their  number  who  had  found 
**  color"  extremely  rich. 

The  Mexican  no  sooner  saw  this  reinforcement  which  destroyed  the  faint 
hope  of  clearing  out  the  bar-room  with  a  fight,  leaped  over  the  doorstep,  beckon 
ing  his  companion  to  follow. 

The  latter  belched  forth  a  string  of  oaths  with  his  rummy  breath  and  clung 
to  the  counter  like  a  sponge  to  a  rock. 

One  of  the  Americans,  all  of  whom  had  had  a  talk  together,  suddenly  stepped 
up  to  the  drinker  and  laying  a  clayey  hand  on  his  shoulder,  said  : 

"  I  arrest  you  for  being  one  of  J  oaquin's  gang  !" 

Jim  tried  to  strike  him ;  they  grappled,  and  the  scuffle  began. 

Jack  outside,  perfectly  aware  how  things  would  be  going  on  and  knowing  too 
well  that  he  single-handed  could  no  more  cut  his  way  into  his  friend  now  than 
bore  through  Tejon  Peak  with  a  willow  rod,  contented  himself  with  sending  a 
couple  of  bullets  through  the  doorway  into  the  bunch  of  fighters  and,  clapping 
spurs  to  his  horse,  "  got  away,"  as  the  P.  R.  says. 

Some  of  the  men  rushed  out  of  the  place,  but,  mounted  as  Jack  was  and  well 
started,  they  had  no  chance  at  all  on  foot  of  course.  An  express-train  locomo 
tive  could  hardly  have  caught  him  on  such  a  Bucephalus  as  he  bestrode. 

As  he  rounded  the  elbow  of  the  road,  under  the  shoulder  of  the  little  hill,  were 
some  half  dozen  riders. 

They  would  perhaps  have  offered  to  stop  a  man  looking  so  excited  as  the 
new-comer,  but  he,  with  presence  of  mind,  shouted  "  Gay  row  at  McNamara's ! 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  39 

Two  bored — I'm  after  the  doctor  !"  They  hesitated,  and  he  was  out  of  pistol- 
shot  before  one  of  them  could  reflect,  and  out  of  rifle-range  before  one  could 
speak. 

In  the  meantime,  the  occupants  of  McNamara's  drinking  establishment  had 
overpowered  Mountain  Jim,  who  was  instantly  taken  to  San  Diego  and  hanged 
without  any  other  delay  than  the  time  strictly  required  to  make  the  hangman's 
noose  at  the  end  of  a  rope. 

A  month  after  these  disasters,  Joaquin,  who  had  only  five  companions  with 
him,  including  the  two  remaining  mistresses  of  the  robbers,  undertook  a  pleas 
ure  excursion  into  Tuolumne  County,  his  only  design  being  to  divert  Clarina, 
who  had  been  by  the  self-murder  of  her  friend  Margarita  plunged  into  profound 
sadness. 

They  journey  slowly  but  pleasantly  and,  in  a  couple  of  weeks,  were  treading 
d  jwn  the  tule-rushes  along  the  River  Merced. 

There,  on  the  very  bank,  in  the  shade  of  a  clump  of  ancient  trees  with  most 
luxuriant  foliage  still,  the  hanging  twigs  of  the  white  oaks  switching  in  the 
wind  and  the  Spanish  moss  swinging  its  gray  garlands  under  the  knobbed  syca 
mores,  the  rippling  of  the  stream  and  the  far  off  grating  of  a  squirrel's  teeth 
against  a  nut  or  the  tapping  of  a  woodpecker  on  a  nut-pine  being  the  only 
sound,  the  party  put  up  their  tents,  Joaquin  having  decided  to  dwell  for  some 
time  in  this  peaceful  place  where  nothing  seemed  likely  to  intrude  to  disturb 
repose. 

But  if  honest  folk  are  not  let  travel  paths  of  lilies  for  long,  the  way  of  the 
transgressor  is  still  harder.  This  pretty  determination  was  destined  to  be  very 
speedily  and  abruptly  destroyed. 

On  the  following  morning,  the  Sonorian  band  was  awakened  by  Jack  of  the 
Three  fingers.  Four  men  in  rough  coats  and  high  boots,  miners  evidently,  were 
walking  along  the  othe?  bank  of  the  stream. 

"  Shall  we  invite  'em  over  to  have  a  drink,  and  drown  them  ]"  asked  the  dis 
coverer  with  kindling  eyes. 

"  Oh,  no.     If  they  are  not  hunting  after  us,  let  them  pass  on." 

While  speaking,  he  peered  once  more,  and  more  attentively  through  the  slit 
for  loophole  which  commanded  a  view  of  the  opposite  shore. 

"  Ha  !  no  !  yes,  by  the  saints !"  cried  he  instantly,  as  a  ferocious  expression 
came  upon  his  features.  "  Come,  Jack !  Up,  up,  Cardoza,  Valenzuela  !  Turn 
out !  Follow  me " 

Without  listening  to  the  entreaties  and  tears  of  the  women,  or  explaining,  he 
caught  up  his  revolver  and  leaped  out  of  the  tent,  the  rest  keeping  close  to  his 
heels. 

The  travelers  were  sauntering  along  tranquilly,  without  thinking  of  the  least 
danger  when  a  four-fold  detonation  rang  out,  and  three  of  them  fell  dying  or 
dead  in  their  steps. 

The  last  only  slightly  wounded,  turned  round  to  see  from  whence  had  come 
the  shots. 

"  You  d —  Yankee — don't  you  know  me — Joaquin  !" 

Three  times  he  fired,  and  gave  vent  to  a  yell  of  delight  on  beholding  the  man 
measure  his  length  beside  the  other  fallen.  He  was  slain  outright. 

"  Jack,"  said  he  pointing  across  the  water, "  I  do  more  than  give  you  pei  mis 
sion,  I  order  you  to  let  loose  your  deviltry.  Some  of  those  dogs  may  live  yet 
— they  are  at  your  mercilessness." 

At  the  first  words  of  the  chief,  Three-fingers  had  jumped  into  the  Merced,  and 
before  the  last  ones  were  spoken,  he  was  breasting  the  current  in  which  he 
stood  up  to  the  neck.  In  a  couple  of  minutes  he  had  touched  bottom  again  and 
was  soon  at  his  hellish  work. 

With  joy  the  infernal  cutthroat  perceived  that  two  of  the  prostrate  men  were 
not  only  not  mortally  wounded  by  were  trying  to  rise,  disabled  as  they  were. 


40  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

One  fired,  with  a  trailing,  broken  arm,  one  shot  at  Jack,  "but  the  latter  un 
harmed,  was  instantly  trampling  on  him. 

Nor  was  the  enchained  demon  satiated  until  he  had  literally  embowelled  one 
and  torn  the  reeking  heart  out  of  the  other. 

The  second  two  he  kicked  into  the  stream. 

Then,  on  his  return,  he  entered  the  canvas  of  the  captain,  he  wanted  to  know 
the  motive  of  the  latter  of  hatred  and  vengeance. 

"  Jack,  answered  he,  "  three  of  those  scoundrels  were  in  the  number  of  the 
murderers  of  my  poor  wife  Carmela,  and  who  drove  me  away  from  the  mines. 
t  don't  know  the  fourth  from  Adam,  but  he  deserved  what  he  got  from  being  in 
such  bad  company." 

"  He's  pot  all  he  wants  and  won't  travel  with  that  crowd  again,  I  reckon,*' 
said  the  Mexican,  grinning  hideously.  "  I  hope,  captain,  that  we  come  across 
some  more  of  the  fellows  who  wronged  you." 

"  If  we  do  meet  the  villains,  your  steel  shan't  rust  for  want  of  blood.  Bah  ! 
that's  over.  Let's  quit  these  diggings  and  camp  somewhere  else  to-night." 

Half  an  hour  afterwards,  the  whole  were  galloping  Mariposa-wards,  near 
which  place,  in  the  rancho  of  a  friend,  they  took  refuge. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

-DROWNS     OUT    THE     ENGLISHMEN. FLORESCo's     FIRST. JACK 

NEARLY    GIVES    AN    EYE    TO    THE    BLIND. REPAYS    THE  TEUTONIC  SAMARITAN. 

DURING  the  month  which  the  gang  spent  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mariposa , 
the  most  of  them  were  idle,  but  two  or  three  went  off  and  performed  little 
strokes  of  their  plundering. 

The  insatiable  Jack  Three-fingers  had  perpetrated  half  a  dozen  robberies  ac 
companied  with  death-giving  in  several  instances,  all  alone,  when  a  species  of 
attachment  springing  up  between  him  and  Texas  Jack  led  to  both  of  them  un 
dertaking  the  game  together. 

One  morning  as  they  strolled  on  the  lookout  along  the  valley  from  which  ran 
some  feeders  of  the  Merced,  they  heard  -the  ringing  of  picks  against  stone,  the 
grating  of  a  spade  through  sand  and  the  scraping  of  a  knife  searching  for  thre  ads 
of  the  precious  metal  in  the  rocks. 

Looking  down  from  the  top  of  the  hill  whereon  the  two  Jacks  were,  they 
could  see  half  a  dozen  men  working  for  dear  life  at  the  damp  drained  bed  of  a 
little  rivulet. 

They  had  put  up  a  dam  and  caught  the  head  waters,  which  had  formed  quite  a 
mass  by  this  time,  and,  not  knowing  how  soon  the  overflow  would  happen,  were 
anything  but  losing  time. 

"  Come  on  down,"  said  Garcia,  "  they  ought  to  be  making  money,  and  we'll 
mark  if  they  are  worth  the  whole  of  us  making  a  call  on.  We  dairsent  tackle 
'em  alone  eh  T 

"  God,  no.  By  the  Lord,  if  they  ain't  every  one  of  'em,  some  of  the  crowd 
who  took  poor  Valenzuela.  I  know  'em,  muddy  as  they  are.  Back,  back,  I  had 
had  a  narrow  enough  escape,  then,  they'll  recognize  me,  I'll  warrant." 

"Oh,  my  eye!  rubbish!"  growled  Jack,  falling  back  under  cover  neverthe 
less. 

For  the  moment  the  pair  looked  down,  undreamt  of,  upon  the  workmen. 
The  latter  plied  their  instruments  vigorously,  their  gasps  of  breath  as  they 
labored  unweariedly  and  the  short  exclamations  of  "  Good  bit,  this  time,  Ned  ! 
Lend  a  'and,  'Arry,  to  turn  this  stun  hover,  bless  me  hif  an  'ell  of  a  chunk  hai'nt 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  4] 

hunder  hit !  Best  bit  yet,  by  the  bricks  of  Westminster  boys  !  'Eave  'arf 
yer  scoopful  hinto  my  bag,  Hackney,  that  black  sand's  h'all  '  pay,'  'ard  h'aa 
h'it  h'is !" 

Every  now  and  then,  one  or  two  of  them  would  run  up  on  the  bank  to  the 
hut,  one  side  of  which  had  had  the  planks  removed  to  make  the  "  torn"  lying 
like  a  stranded  scow  beside  it,  and  deposit  there  the  gatherings. 

Garoia  ground  his  teeth  an  instant  but  then  smiled. 

"  So  they  are  the  set  who  nailed  our  comrade,  eh  1  I  wonder  how  much 
they've  made  already — no  little,  I'll  bet.  Jack,  here,"  and  the  three-fingered 
Mexican  whispered  something  to  his  friend,  which  made  the  latter  nod  approv 
ingly,  smile  and  lift  the  cord  of  his  powder-horn  over  his  head.  Texas  carried 
a  rifle  this  n.orriing  and  had  a  double  supply  of  ammunition.  At  the  same  time, 
the  other  took  off  his  neck-scarf  and  folded  it  up  into  a  kind  of  bag,  into  which 
he  tipped  a  quantity  of  the  gunpowder,  thus,  forming  a  rude  "  carcase,"  as  they 
call  it  in  military  mining. 

"  I'll  do  it,"  said  Garcia,  "  for  it  came  into  my  head  first.  You  might  have 
an  eye  to  any  who  looks  up." 

This  was  the  scene. 

A  kind  of  tunnel  with  the  upper  half  removed,  something  like  two  hundred 
feet  long  and  varying  in  width  from  thirty  at  either  end  to  fifty  feet  in  the 
width  parts.  In  the  centre  very  nearly,  the  new  drained  bed  hard  clay  and 
gravel  covered  with  rocks  and  a  few  stumps  of  trees  inbedded  beyond  possibili 
ty  of  movement,  like  a  groove  unevenly  broad  by  some  ten  to  twelve  feet  and 
from  two  yards  to  three  deep.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  little  ravine,  having  a 
fall  of  twenty  feet,  the  damned  up  torrent,  spread  out  and  leaking  gently  on 
the  other  side  to  where  the  two  bandits  were  plotting.  This  escaped  water  did 
not  rim  into  its  natural  course  till  having  reached  almost  the  other  end  of  the 
valley,  thus,  though  making  the  grass  and  ground  wet,  not  at  all  interfering 
with  the  workmen. 

A  little  vegetation  which  had  escaped  their  hands  in  making  the  temporary 
embankment  and  this  line  of  earth  itself  prevented  the  eyes  of  any  of  them 
below  from  perceiving  Three-fingered  Jack  who,  with  the  "  carcass"  in  one  hand 
crawled  over  the  moist,  sticky  and  yet  slippery  soil  towards  the  penned-in 
water's  placid  but  so  potent,  sheet  insensibly  enlarging. 

Texas,  rifle  at  the  ready,  peered  through  a  barrier  of  cottonwood  saplings 
nearly  choked  by  willows  down  upon  the  miners. 

The  latter,  in  thus  venturing  to  interfere  with  nature,  had  not  done  so  very 
an  imprudent  an  act  as  may  appear.  They  had  spent  the  whole  of  the  pre 
vious  day  in  fashioning  the  wall,  and  had  let  the  night  pass  in  the  bed  be 
coming  dry,  their  guard  being  on  the  alert  to  prevent  anybody  surprising  them 
on  seeing  their  idea  and  beating  them  off  as  might  have  happened  in  that  lonely 
place.  The  breakwater,  made  for  the  time  being,  would  have  probably  lasted 
all  that  day,  especially  with  the  side-loss  relieving  its  expanding  prisoner,  and 
they  would  make  a  new  one  on  the  morrow,  if  the  "  yield"  of  metal  was 
worth  that. 

Texas  reflected  on  all  this. 

"  Good  thing  for  the  John  Bulls,"  said  he  approvingly,  "  baby  Jack's  go 
ing  to  put  a  spoke  in  your  wheel." 

Meanwhile  the  Mexican  had  crept  boldly  out  on  the  mud  wall,  and  the 
«plashing  made  by  a  couple  of  missteps  had  made  Texas  shudder,  but  not 
the  foe  look  up.  They  had  all  their  eyes  on  the  ground,  prying  about  for 
'  indications"  of  that  metal  which  had  lured  them  from  the  sea-coast  round 
Torbay,  the  caves  on  the  Irish  Sea,  the  inland  village  and  the  metropolis 
*f  millions. 

As  far  from  him  as  he  could,  did  Garcia  push  the  cloth  bomb  in  among  the 


42  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

mass  of  cut  wood,  brush,  stones  and  earth.  He  crept  back  as  far  as  he  could, 
supported  himself  on  his  one  hand  so  as  to  spring  up  without  delay,  held  out 
his  other,  in  which  was  his  revolver  and,  at  the  same  time  that  he  fired,  he 
jumped  up  and  back,  turned  in  the  very  air  and  made  a  prodigious  leap. 
.  At  the  crack  of  the  firearm,  the  laborers  were  not  so  enwrapped  in  gold-pick, 
ing  as  not  to  be  startled  and  look  up  that  way.  The  horror  they  all  felt  pre 
vented  a  sound  issuing  from  them — if  they  had  shouted  all  together,  no  matter, 
for  the  dull  boom  would  have  drowned  it  as  it  did  all  other  sounds.  The  ex 
plosion,  from  being  so  confined  above,  did  not  naturally  do  the  damage  con 
cealed  in  that  amount  of  powder,  but  was  quite  as  powerful  as  the  author  had 
expected.  Not  only  was  the  artificial  mound  split  asunder,  but  the  shock  acted 
on  the  water  in  some  peculiar  way — or  else  the  edge  of  the  miniature  precipice 
had  been  perforated  by  the  element — for,  be  the  cause  what  it  might,  a  mass  of 
yellowish  granite,  split  downwards  and  along  into  a  slice  like  a  curtain  of  a 
fortress,  bearing  a  crown  of  mud  and  loose  rocks  on  its  top,  leant  over  and  fell 
into  the  bed. 

One  of  the  miners  was  struck  by  the  fragments  and  killed. 
Another  was  thrown  off  his  legs  by  the  shock. 

The  others  thought  to  fly,  but  already  the  enraged  confined  pond  was  rushing 
out  in  a  heavy  spout  straight  at  them. 
All  this  in  the  smallest  space  of  time. 

The  two  robbers,  Garcia  still  panting,  for  to  escape  from  exploding  the  mam 
moth  cartridge  had  been  a  touch  and  go  matter  indeed,  could  only  see  the  foun 
tain  playing  its  side-long  jet  forward. 

A  stream  of  mingled  water,  stones,  stumps,  dirt,  first,  all  of  purer  water  next. 
The  empty  bed  was  half-filled  already  with  the  released  prisoner  and  rushin^ 
along  to  the  opening  of  the  valley  with  great  speed,  leaping  all  hindrances  in 
preference  to  circling  around  them. 

In  about  ten  minutes,  the  roar  died  away,  the  muddy  cascade  that  had  formed 
for  a  while  a  murky  rainbow,  sunk  into  a  paltry  stream,  pouring  quite  tranquil 
ly  through  the  opening  began  by  the  powder  and  enlarged  by  it. 

No  pond  above,  but  an  area  of  ground  plastered  down  by  mud,  on  which 
floundered  a  few  reptiles. 

"  That's  done  for  'em  all,  by  heavens  and  their  saints  !"  exclaimed  Texas 
Jack,  as  he  and  his  colleague  stood  out  on  the  edge  of  the  chasm  to  look  down. 
At  the  same  time,  Garcia  gave  him  a  vigorous  pull  back. 
Bang  !  went  a  large  pistol  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  miners,  who  had  caught 
hold  of  some  tree's  root  on  the  bank  and  pulled  himself  out  of  the  danger  at  the 
cost  of  a  bucketful  or  so  of  spray  and  of  the  filling  of  his  boots  with  water. 

He  had  remembered  the  shot  that  had  preceded  the  louder  report  and,  when 
on  the  safe  land,  had  used  his  eyes  more  to  discover  the  author  of  the  evil  than 
to  look  after  his  no  doubt  dead  comrades. 

Hence,  when  the  bandits  above  came  into  view,  he  had  kept  close,  only  hast 
ing  to  re-prime  the  large  horse-pistol  which  he  had  not  lost  from  his  girdle. 

"  Hit,  Jack  ?"  queried  Garcia,  emptying  two  barrels  at  the  man,  whom  they 
missed  from  the  distance. 
«  No,  Jack.     And  you  T 

"  I'm  hunk.  Of  course,  I  ain't  hit  if  you're  not ;  he  couldn't  have  had  two 
scattering  balls  in." 

Meanwhile,  the  survivor  had,  after  a  hesitation  as  to  whether  he  should  try- 
to  enter  the  hut,  turned  to  the  hills  and  began  climbing  with  all  haste. 

On  the  instant,  Garcia  was  rolling  and  jumping  down  the  ascent  like  a  big 
horn  and  running  along  the  bank  of  the  rivulet  to  get  a  good  place  to  leap 
across. 

Texas  Jack  took  steady  aim  with  his  gun,  it  cracked  and  spat  fire,  but  ^the 
man  without  a  stop,  continued  his  way. 


Or,    The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  43 

"Missed,"  yelled  Garcia,  lifting  his  revolver. 

«  Hit !"  said  Texas. 

Indeed,  just  as  the  fugitive's  foot  was  pressed  upon  a  jutting  crag,  he  leaned 
backwards  though  his  head  fell  forward  on  his  breast,  half  turned  and,  complete 
ly  losing  his  balance,  pitched  sideways  downwards,  shooting  along  like  a  limber 
plank.  Garcia  had  jumped  into  the  water  and  was  at  the  spot  where  he  fell. 

The  wounded  man  said  something  indistinctly,  and  died  before  the  Mexican 
could  pierce  him  with  knife  or  shoot  him. 

"What  did  he  say "?"  asked  Texas  Jack,  who  had  crossed  and  reached  the 
place  as  his  comrade  stripped  the  corpse  of  its  gold-belt. 

"  '  Merry,'  or  '  Mary,'  I  don't  know,"  answered  the  robber,  thrusting  his  three 
lingers  into  the  divisions  of  the  wash-leather  to  feel  the  quality  of  the  dust  and 
grains.  "  All  I  do  know  is  that  he  came  down  the  hill  quicker  than  he  went 
up." 

"  It  couldn't  have  been  '  merry/  for  he  was  anything  but  that  with  my  bullet 
in  his  backbone,"  said  the  Texan. 

"  What  of  it  1  Make  haste  till  we  clear  out  the  shanty,"  and  the  two  ran  to 
the  cabin. 

They  found  themselves  foiled.  The  miners  had  prudently  buried  what  they 
had  gained  in  previous  "  exploiting"  beyond  their  ability  to  carry  on  their  per 
sons,  and  all  that  was  in  the  hut  was  the  gatherings  of  the  morning,  some  few 
pieces  of  the  "  cucumber-seed"  size  being  cleaned,  but  the  rest  being  still  in  bits 
of  stone  and  glittering  in  conglomerates  of  sand. 

"  Curse  it  I"  swore  Garcia.     "  We  ought  to  have  known  it." 

They  took  what  they  could  quickly.  The  Texan  proposed  following  the 
course  of  let-loose  streamlet  to  find  the  bodies  swept  before  its  first  rush,  but 
the  other  insisted  on  a  return  to  the  camp. 

"Garcia,"  said  Joaquin  at  a  private  conversation  with  the  man,  "have  you 
noticed  that  new  hand  Floresco  T" 

"  The  milksop,  who  always  speaks  against  bleeding  a  sheep  after  one  fleeced 
it.  Yes,  captain.  Is  he  a  traitor  1  I  thought  so — shall  1 1"  and  Jack  touched 
his  knife  meaningly. 

"  No,  no,  there's  the  making  of  a  dare-devil  in  him,  I  fancy,  but  he  must 
be  red-handed.  I  don't  suppose  he  has  ever  killed  a  man  yet." 

"  Time  he  began,"  said  Jack,  "  there's  a  boy  of  fourteen  in  Jackson  who 
killed  two  men  in  a  street  fight  last  month." 

"  As  you  say.  Well,  take  a  stroll.  Let  Floresco  be  one  of  them  and  make 
him  settle  a  man." 

"  All  right.     "  If  he  don't  down  he  goes." 

Off  went  Jack,  and  by  nightfall  he  and  his  trio,  including  the  designated 
youth,  were  waiting,  chewing  the  ends  of  their  cigarettes  impatiently,  for 
passers  along  the  road  out  of  Mariposa. 

It  was  just  the  time  when  a  few,  and  very  few  wayfarers  might  be  expected. 
All  at  once  a  sound  of  several  horses  made  their  horses  prick  up  their  ears,  and 
the  masters  start  up. 

Three  horse  dealers  were  returning  from  the  mines,  and  had  allied  their  forces 
for  security,  as  each  carried  the  proceeds  of  sales  about  them. 

"  There  you  are,  Floresco.  Go  in  !"  said  Jack,  giving  his  charge  a  push  out  of 
the  hedge  of  scrub  spruce. 

The  young  man  resolutely  planted  himself  in  front  of  the  three  riders,  dis 
playing  his  pistol. 

"  Halt !  No  passing  here  till  we  men  of  the  highway  assay  your  dust." 

There  was  a  moment  of  surprise  and  perhaps  a  little  fear  in  the  three.  But 
one  of  them,  the  middle  horseman,  who  recovered  his  coolness  more  quickly 
than  his  fellows,  jerked  a  pistol  out  of  his  holster. 

"  Dry  up,  and  step  aside,  or  I'll  break  your  head  !"  said  he. 


44  Jbaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

At  this  juncture,  a  chorus  of  hoarse  voices  sang  out  of  the  bush : 

"  Joaquin  is  here !  down  with  your  spit-fire,  you  fools !" 

Out  jumped  the  three  bandits. 

"  Drop  your  belts  on  the  ground,  or  you're  dead  meat !"  roared  Garcia  in  a 
voice  which  was  not  his  sweetest. 

They  obeyed,  except  the  centre  cavalier,  who  cocked  his  pistol. 

"  Now,  Nopal  Blossom  (Floresco's  nickname),  lether  up !"  cried  Garcia. 
"  It's  you  or  him !" 

The  young  man  saw  the  speaker's  eyes  blazing  in  the  dusk  like  a  firebrand 
blown  upon.  He  nearly  touched  the  man,  and  fired.  The  victim,  at  the  start 
of  his  horse,  fell  back  and  glided  off  the  croup  a  dead  man. 

His  pistol  fell  to  the  ground  with  him,  but  the  cap  had  dropped  off  and  the 
hammer  struck  the  nipple  without  an  explosion  following. 

"  They  show  fight,  eh  ?"  growled  Garcia,  "  don't  leave  'em  a  color  of  metal." 

So  the  three  were  completely  despoiled,  and  the  robbers  retired,  well  pleased 
at  having  gained  so  much  coin  as  they  did,  and  patting  Floresco  on  the  shoulder 
applaudingly  all  the  way  of  the  return. 

For  three  days  the  robber  of  the  mutilated  hand  had  been  absent  from  the 
band,  and  fear  had  been  excited  about  him,  but  no  news  of  accident  having 
arrived  to  him  from  justice  was  to  be  found  in  any  of  the  surrounding  settle 
ments. 

When  he  did  show  himself  after  that  time,  he  was  dressed  in  new  clothes 
somewhat  too  large  for  him  and.  had  his  never  very  handsome  phiz  ornament 
ed,  for  nothing  could  make  it  worse,  with  a  dreadful  black  blood-blister  and 
bruise  beside  one  of  his  eyes. 

This  was  the  story  which  he  told. 

He  had  wandered  away  from  the  peopled  parts  just  in  mere  idleness,  and 
camped  in  the  wilds  like  the  savage  he  was. 

In  the  night-time  while  sleeping  with  his  provision-bag  as  a  pillow,  something, 
a  stray  coyote  in  all  likelihood,  had  stolen  it  without  his  being  aware  of  his  loss. 

Enraged,  he  had  started  on  the  trail  the  first  thing  in  the  morning,  when  he 
had  found  the  tatters  of  the  satchel,  but  everything  it  had  contained,  to  the  very 
tobacco,  eaten  or  carried  off.  This  had  made  him  give  up  his  stay  in  the  soli 
tude.  Hungry  with  so  much  exercise  and  no  breakfast,  he  had  tried  to  bring 
down  squirrels  with  pistol-shots,  but  not  one  would  let  him  get  within  range, 
like  the  birds. 

In  the  afternoon  he  had  struck  a  trail  of  some  animal  of  the  deer  kind,  and. 
he  had  followed  it.  As  the  sun  went  down,  he  had  perceived  small  foot-prints 
running  among  the  large  hoof-marks  and  had  recognized  them  to  be  made  by 
one  or  two  wolves. 

The  deer  was  probably  wounded,  for  its  steps  were  uneven  and  in  many  cases 
\i  had  tumbled  over  stones  and  vines  instead  of  leaping  them. 

This  gave  Jack  hope,  and  he  "  loped"  on  as  doggedly  as  the  wolves. 

At  length  the  track  doubled  and  turned  back  on  itself,  and  to  the  pursuer's 
surprise,  a  crash  in  the  bushes  to  one  side  attracting  him  thither,  he  saw  an  an- 
tlered  body  stagger  along  blindly. 

He  gave  it  one  shot  and  was  taking  up  the  chase  when  a  couple  of  growls  be 
hind  him  drew  his  attention  that  way. 

A  pair  of  red  wolves,  tongue  out  and  their  paws  all  bleeding  and  dusty,  had 
stopped  on  seeing  this  human  barrier  to  their  love  of  the  chase  and  evinced  their 
disapproval  of  his  smoking  revolver. 

"  You  little  cusses !"  said  Jack,  and  he  let  the  nearer  one  have  a  couple  of 
shots,  which  made  it  roll  over  and  over  in  the  chinkapin  bushes  with  broken  leg 
and  perforated  head. 

To  the  man's  surprise,  the  other  did  not  not  scuttle  off,  tail  between  legs,  as 
he  had  taken  for  granted. 


0?*,   The  Marauder  oj  the  Mines.  45 

On  the  contrary,  with  a  "  warr-r-r  !"  deep  down  in  its  slimy  throat,  it  fearless 
ly  flew  at  the  bandit,  who  actually  pushed  it  from  him  with  his  revolver. 

It  was  up  again  in  a  moment  and  making  its  fangs  meet  in  the  front  of  his 
boot-leg  began  to  tug  at  it,  at  the  same  time  as  giving  full  play  to  its  no  less 
sharp  claws. 

Down  went .  the  man  on  the  sugar-pine  leaf  carpet  and  the  two  growled  and 
fought  till  Garcia,  remembering  himself,  pushed  the  barrels  of  his  revolver  into 
the  belly  of  the  infuriated  animal,  and  kept  pulling  the  trigger  (for  he  had  a 
new  patent  self-cocking  arm)  till  the  remaining  loads  were  all  exhausted  in  a 
twinkling. 

He  actually  had  to  hammer  with  the  butt  on  the  entangled  teeth  to  get  loose. 
Then  he  kicked  the  dead  beast  over  towards  its  mate  which  was  howling  in  the 
bushes,  and  indulged  in  a  paean  which  was  composed  of  the  choicest  curses  in 
the  English,  Spanish,  Indian  and  mining  vocabularies. 

Loading  as  he  went,  the  Mexican  took  up  the  pursuit  once  more. 

From  the  extreme  wildness  of  the  animal's  track,  he  conjectured  that  his  last 
shot  had  seriously  injured  it. 

After  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  run,  turning  and  twisting,  a  snorting  and  bleat- 
ing  of  pain  in  a  thicket  told  him  where  was  the  prey. 

He  looked  through  the  natural  fence  of  saplings,  which  had  sprung  up  into 
place  again  after  being  bent  down  by  the  brute. 

An  elk,  larger  than  he  had  fancied  it  when  he  had  seen  it  in  motion,  was 
standing  on  tremulous  legs,  its  flanks  heaving  and,  at  each  inflation,  fresh  blood 
leaping  out  of  a  hole  in  it's  flecked  skin. 

\.  few  twigs  dangled  on  its  horns,  one  of  the  branches  of  which  had  lost  its 
tip. 

The  nostrils  snuffed  the  air,  but  the  eyes,  though  open,  told  the  whole  story 
of  the  poor  beast's  blundering  pace. 

It  was  stone  blind  from  some  cause  or  other,  perhaps  age,  for  it  was  now 
weaker  than  a  long  run  would  have  made  it. 

While  Jack  looked,  its  joints  gave  way  and,  first  settling  down  on  its  haunches 
the  head  and  breast  upheld  for  a  moment  as  proudly  as  of  old,  drooped  and, 
with  a  choking  sob  and  a  roll  of  the  poor  sightless  orbs,  the  elk  tumbled  over 
on  its  side. 

A  rush  of  steam  from  its  wide  nostrils,  and  no  more  sound. 

"  Save  powder  to  drop  so,  you  do  !"  muttered  Jack,  pushing  into  the  sort  of 
small  clearing. 

He  returned  his  revolver  to  his  belt,  in  exchange  for  his  knife  and  advanced. 

A  slight  breathing  was  yet  in  the  prostrate  mass,  but  the  wound  had  clotted 
itself  up  and  ceased  to  flow. 

Jack  boldly  grasped  the  upper  branch  of  horns  and  bent  down  to  draw  his 
blade  across  the  neck  which  he  tightened. 

His  relish  for  leisure  butchery  was  the  cause  of  his  mishap. 

As  if  galvanised,  the  supposed  corpse  was  only  too  lively.  The  hoofs  struck 
out  furiously  and  made  the  sticks  and  stones  fly. 

The  man,  clinging  to  his  hold,  felt  his  arm  nearly  pulled  from  the  socket  and 
himself  jerked  upward  as  the  elk  staggered  to  its  feet. 

Then,  Jack  saw  and  felt  things  as  in  a  dream.  His  revolver  fell  out  of  his 
belt,  his  knife  left  his  hand  stuck  somewhere  in  the  head  to  which  he  clung. 

A  series  of  plunges,  tossings,  kickings  and  short  runs  terminating  in  sudden 
stops,  a  sensation  of  being  pushed  rapidly  through  the  air  and  of  being  driven 
into  a  mass  of  half-yielding  thorny  twigs.  And  he  was  senseless. 

When  he  came  to  consciousness, — he  could  not  tell  how  long  afterwards, — . 
he  was  in  a  small  rude  cabin,  pervaded  with  a  smell  of  cooking,  on  a  blanket  on 
the  earthen  floor.  Over  one  of  his  eyes  was  a  large  bandage  and  on  one  arm 
was  another. 


46  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

"  Hullo  !"  cried  he,  sitting  up  and  looking  around  in  amazement,  what  in  the 
name  of  the  devil  is  this  ? ' 

A  man  entered  the  hut  while  he  was  wondering.  An  undeniable  German 
and  as  undeniably  a  miner,  for  his  dress  and  the  earth  upon  it  showed  that. 

"  Ah,  ha !  you  bees  came  aroundt,  hem  ?"  said  he  good  humoredly. 

"  It  looks  so,"  answered  Jack. 

"  It  looks  so,  yah,  you  spicks  truth,"  said  the  other  laughing,  as  if  there  were 
a  joke  in  the  response. 

To  the  Mexican's  questions  he  replied  in  broken  English  that  he  was  a  native 
of  Kreuznachtenberg,  heaven  knowns  exactly  where,  and  that  he  had  come  out 
for  a  fortune  not  yet  found  (added  he  with  peasant's  prudence)  to  the  land  of 
gold. 

More  immediately,  he  had  located  himself  here  all  alone,  and  when  out  to 
seek  a  better  place  and  some  eatables  in  the  way  of  feathered  and  hairy  animals 
had  chanced  to  strike  the  elk's  trail. 

He  had  followed  it  for  a  time  without  observing  the  man's  steps  and,  when 
he  did,  had  kept  on  hoping  to  see  a  fellow  being. 

He  had  entered  the  clearing,  where  he  beheld  the  carcass  of  the  elk,  and  a 
supposed  dead  man  rammed  into  the  bushes.  He  had  shouldered  the  latter  and 
a  piece  of  the  other,  and — that  was  the  whole.  He  was  too  good  a  man  to  ex 
patiate  on  so  simple  and  natural  an  act  as  thus  relieving  his  "  brother-man,"  as 
he  called  him. 

"  You're  green,"  said  Jack ;  "  in  these  diggings  or  you'd  a  sliced  the  man  and 
marched  off  with  the  game." 

The  Samaritan  did  not  perceive  the  necessity  of  cruelty,  and  Jack  did  not  try 
very  hard  to  convince  him. 

"  You  has  no  tools,"  remarked  the  other,  "  dit  you  leab  your  lansmen  some 
where  r 

"  Me  ?  Oh,  I  was  prospecting  when  I  cut  after  that  plaguey  deer — burn 
him  !"  responded  the  Mexican. 

"  Burn  him  !"  ejaculated  the  other.  "  I  forgotted  !"  and  with  that  he  hurried 
to  the  cause  of  the  odor  that  filled  the  one  chamber,  a  huge  joint  of  the  elk 
being  roasted  on  a  flat  stone,  which  formed  the  hearth. 

Enough  that  Jack  displayed  all  the  winning,  ways  that  he  could  muster  and 
quite  conquered  the  German,  that  the  latter  brought  out  his  small  keg  of  liquor 
and  that  the  two  went  to  bed — blankets,  we  mean,  similarly  fuddled. 

The  German  dreamed,  as  a  result  of  certain  words  that  the  Mexican  had 
dropped,  that  Jack,  his  partner,  guided  him  to  a  spot  covered  with  bushes 
which  had  to  be  raked  away  with  a  mammoth  deer's  horns,  when  a  layer  of  un- 
clayed,  unalloyed  gold  blazed  in  his  eyes,  that  he  returned  to  his  birthplace 
with  the  long  name,  a  man  far  more  wealthy  than  the  chief  syndic,  bought  the 
title  and  estate  of  the  Count-baron  of  Hochberg-Johaninsheimerweissbieren, 
married  the  girl  whom  he  had  last  seen  knitting  at  her  father's  cottage-door, 
and  who  had  pricked  him  with  a  needle  in  the  parting  salute.  ( 

The  robber,  on  the  other  hand,  awoke  instead  of  revelling  in  visions,  as  soon 
as  he  slept  off  the  liquor's  fumes,  considered  for  a  moment,  rose  noiselessly, 
felt  about  for  the  weapons  which  he  had  remarked  to  be  placed  in  a  certain 
shelf,  and  knifed  without  a  shade  of  remorse  the  man  who  had  saved  his  life. 

This  done,  still  in  the  dark,  he  searched  the  hut,  flashed  powder  to  find  hiding 
places,  and  not  poorly  paid  for  his  scrutiny,  for  the  industry  and  steadiness  of  I 
the  Teuton  had  reaped  its  fruit  for  all  of  his  inexperience. 

Thus  laden  with  the  spoils,  as  guiltily  acquired  as  could  be,  he  came  to  the 
camp  to  be  welcomed  as  the  prodigal  son  would  have  been  greeted  by  the  spend 
ers  of  his  substance,  had  he  broken  his  repentance  and  robbed  his  father  after 
the  feast  for  his  return. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  47 

CHAPTER  IX. 

JACK    THIRSTY    AGAIN. THE    DRUNKEN    MINER. DARING    OF   JOAQUIN. 

THE  misdeeds  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mariposa  had  so  fluttered  the  people 
that  it  was  deemed  proper  to  make  a  shifting  of  position.  The  \vhole  party 
erossed  the  Merced  at  a  good  ford  and,  now  striking  deep  into  the  wooded  land, 
now  climbing  highlands,  directed  their  route  to  meet  a  trail  by  which  they  could 
reach  the  forks  of  the  Tuohume  River,  that  district  where  the  best  and  finest 
gold  is  obtained  throughout  the  Queen  of  the  Pacific's  realm. 

Thereupon,  as  soon  as  the  stream  had  been  passed  with  the  horses,  they  went 
on  swiftly  until  near  Shaw's  Flats. 

On  all  sides  rang  out  a  medley  of  picks,  spades,  toms,  cradles  and  all  the 
instruments  and  mechanical  assistants  that  could  be  brought  into  use  to  the 
miner. 

Numbers  of  Chinese  in  that  quarter,  which  has  been  named  since  "  Chinese 
Camp"  for  pre-eminence  as  the  Celestial's  resort,  had  pitched  their  tents  on 
neighboring  points,  and,  working  in  company,  were  assiduously  working  and 
"  clearing'  up"  profitably  the  refuse  of  the  claims  abandoned  by  others  from  a 
"  pile"  having  been  made  out  of  it  or  from  disgust  at  the  scanty  returns. 

The  whole  scene,  animated  by  the  spirit  of  Labor,  glowed  with  peace,  pros-  * 
perity  and  contentment. 

Joaquin  and  his  followers 'did  not  try  to  avoid  general  observation. 

The  state  of  the  country  favored  him  as  much  as  the  English  and  French  and 
German  robbers  were  shielded  by  the  usages  of  their  own  times.  It  was  too 
common  a  custom  for  wagoners,  horse-dealers,  drovers,  hunters  and  travelers  of 
every  description,  to  camp  for  days  and  sometimes  during  whole  weeks,  on 
the  edge  of  a  water-course,  or  under  the  shade  of  some  Big  Tree  in  a  lonely 
valley. 

And  besides,  there  was  n.o  uneasiness  to  be  excited  by  the  band  being  well 
equipped  and  armed ;  the  habit — widely  spread  in  Californian  society  of  never 
going  even  to  see  your  next  door  neighbor  without  a  "  toothpick  or  a  (lead) 
pea-blower,"  permitted  Captain  Joaquin  and  his  cutthroats  to  flash  out  their 
steel  in  perfect  security  until  they  should  willingly  or  perforce  reveal  their  true 
character. 

The  commander  of  this  illustrious  collection  of  desperadoes  possessing  sums 
more  than  sufficient  for  temporary  requirements,  decided  to  make  some 
weeks'  stay  around  the  Flat. 

His  chief  intention  was,  while  resting  and  living  in  an  agreeable  style,  to 
spend  several  hundred  dollars  in  circulations  in  the  gambling  houses,  the  saloonS 
and  the  fandangoes  of  the  vicinity. 

Chance  served  him  wonderfully:  he  found  some  miners,  who — having  raised 
the  quantity  of  wind  (otherwise,  dust)  which  answered  their  expectations  and 
being  on  the  point  of  going  home  (great  word  !  in  those  days,  of  Californian 
(y)ore) — were  quite  willing  to  dispose  of  the  little  cabin  which  they  called  their 
house,  along  with  all  the  household  utensils  with  which  it  was  not  badly  sup 
plied. 

Situated  on  a  site  not  very  tempting,  which  the  association  of  diggers  had 
"  coyoted"  into  and  worked  over  and  over  again  until  the  last  precious  particle 
had  been  removed,  the  hut  was  doubly  valuable  to  the  new  tenants  from  its 
being  in  among  the  gold-seekers  and  yet  not  of  them,  for  there  they  were  not 
likely  to  be  sought  for. 

Every  evening,  the  robber  leader,  accompanied  by  Cardoza  and  two  girls, 
would  saunter  through  the  growing  village  for  amusement. 


48  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

The  headquarters,  during  this  time,  was  entrusted  to  Valenzuela  and  Garcia, 
a  formal  order  enjoining  the  latter  to  remain  peaceable  and,  under  no  pretext 
whatever,  to  compromise  by  theft  or  murder,  the  asylum  of  the  whole  band. 

For  the  first  time  in  his  life,  the  butcher  bandit  seemed  to  have  lost  his  hank 
ering  for  human  blood,  and,  during  a  period  of  three  weeks,  remained  near  the 
common  resort  sharing  his  time  between  cards  and  liquor.  In  the  end,  never 
theless,  his  nature  retook  the  upperhand. 

One  evening,  while  Valenzuela  was  at  Sonora  along  with  Joaquin  and  the 
others,  the  wretch  whetted  his  steel  and  set  out  in  search  of  a  victim. 

The  Chinese,  squatting  before  their  tents,  were  busy  in  examining  the  pro 
ceeds  of  the  day's  work,  sorting  and  chatting  over  the  "  flour"  "  grain"  and 
"  shot"  gold,  and  raising  a  chorus  of  thanksgiving  to  Joss  no  doubt  whenever  a 
five-dollar  piece,  (common  to  American  miners  but  extraordinary  to  them)  was 
displayed. 

Jack's  eyes  caught  fire  with  a  savage  lustre  resembling  that  of  a  hunter  sight 
ing  favorite  game.  But,  as  the  Americans  had  tents  not  very  distant,  all  around 
the  abodes  of  the  sons  of  the  Sun  and  brothers  of  the  Moon,  the  bandit,  who 
only  had  the  wish  to  cut  off  two  or  three  heads  and  not  to  get  into  a  fight  with 
a  cord  in  perspective,  continued  to  walk  on  in  the  direction  of  Sonora  with  the 
hope  of  coming  up  not  only  to  a  better  place  but  a  more  advantageous  chance. 

On  the  way,  at  different  times,  he  encountered  parties  of  miners  and  raw 
hands,  but  as  they  were  armed  to  the  teeth,  he  let  them  alone  in  their  bristling 
array ;  once  in  a  while  a  stray  Celestial  was  encountered,  but  as  they  were 
always  hanging  near  to  the  large  parties,  he  had  to  overcome  his  eagerness  to 
spring  upon  the  man  and  keep  his  weapons  under  his  blanket* 

At  the  place  where  the  Sonora  Road  forks  and  makes  an  elbow,  too,  he  turned 
towards  Columbia  and,  when  he  was  only  a  short  distance  from  that  town,  sat 
himself  down  by  the  wayside  to  tranquilly  enjoy  the  flavor  of  a  cigarette. 

It  was  a  fine  evening,  the  sky  sparkling  splendidly. 

Jack,  before  going  any  farther,  resolved  to  take  a  little  rest  and  smoke  on 
till  two  or  three  in  the  morning.  Then,  he  thought,  on  retracing  his  steps  to 
his  chief's  cabin,  he  might,  without  too  much  danger,  walk  in  among  the 
Imperial  subjects,  probably  stupefied  with  opium,  and  slash  half  a  dozen  to 
death  as  easily  as  kiss  your  hand. 

While  he  was  foretasting  the  pleasure  he  promised  himself  in  such  cold 
blooded  slaughter,  he  was  interrupted  in  his  reflections  by  a  noise  of  footsteps, 
intermingled  with  the  sound  of  a  voice — man's  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  add,  for 
a  "  live  woman  at  the  diggings"  was  a  Barnum's  feat  in  the  times  we  write 
truthfully  of — endeavoring  to  sing  fragments  of  melodies  derived  rather  from 
the  operas  of  Rice,  Christy,  Buckley  aud  S.  C.  Foster  than  from  those  of  Eu 
ropean  celebrities. 

By  listening  to  the  laughable  medley  which  the  vocalist  produced,  it  could  be 
guessed  instantly  that  he  wras  like  a  ship  rounding  the  Horn,  half  seas  over. 

Multiplying  by  the  forces  concentrated  in  rifle-whiskey  the  original  powers 
of  the  lungs,  the  stranger,  after  having  manfully  "  engaged"  Zip  Coon  the 
Ancient,  and  Jim  Crow,  ran  on,  without  a  bar  or  rest,  into  Possum  up  a  Gum- 
Tree,  Hoop  Jamborine  and  Coal  Black  Rose.  He  began  next  to  whistle  a 
combination  of  Yankee  Doodle  and  Ould  Lang  Syne ;  but,  not  finding  his  exo 
cution  of  this  satisfactory  to  his  Meyerbeerian  taste,  threw  his  whole  powers 
into  a  mingling  of  songs,  yells,  and  shrill  cat-calls. 

This  new  sort  of  harmony  may  thus  be  hinted  to  the  reader  (the  delicate 
shades  are  left  to  the  fancy)  : 

"  Oh,  ok  !  Susannah  !  don't  you  cry  for  me, 
I'm  gwine  (hie !)  to  Call  (hie)  forny  with 

"  hooray  !  hooraw  for  hooroo  !  hip  f  ki — yi-i  i !  (Apache  charging-cry !)     I  don't 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines  49 

care  a  cuss  for  nothin'.  Wagh — a — wagh — a — a  (Comanche)  th'  hundred-an'-one- 
dol'r  nug  (hie !)  nugget — (Slow  scalp-dance  chant)  hay,  yay  !  Hullo,  old  boy," 
added  he,  trying  to  pull  up  short  in  front  of  the  smoker. 

"  Go  on,  go  on,"  said  the  Mexican,  not  minding  him  ;  "  you're  drunk  ajj  over 
like  the  '  paint'  on  Poor  Man's  Creek  gold." 

"Who  in  h —  are — "  began  the  man  fiercely,  but  his  ferocity  vanishing,  he 
smiled,  then  scowled,  then  remembered  the  only  words  he  had  caught  of  tho 
speech  and,  hurt  at  the  implied  contempt,  went  on :  "  Look  here,  you  don't 
know  me — come  an'  take  a  nip.  I've  made  a  steep  lot  on  the  bed-rock — I  foun' 
the  hundred  an'  one  nugget  in  the  Dead  Man's  Canon  pocket — I  did,  I'll  bet 
yer  !  it's  in  the  papers — Come  an'  take  a — drink  or  fight's  the  word — I  can  lick 
any  man — any  smoker — any  two  smoke — I  tell  you  what,  you're  mean  as  earth 
that  ain't  pay-durt !  You  won't  ?  you're  a — go  to  the  devil,  then  !" 

And,  having  found  that  he  must  either  move  or  fall,  he without  waiting 

to  follow  Crockett's  to  "  be  sure  you're  right," — "  went  ahead"  by  zig-zags, 
uttering  a  preliminary  shout  audible  for  a  mile  around,  to  clear  his  throat  and 
resumed  his  interesting  lay. 

He  had  not  gone  far  from  Jack,  tacking,  backing,  and  filling,  as  he  did,  than 
the  latter,  falling  upon  him  unexpectedly,  before  he  had  time  to  change  his  joy 
ous  ballad  into  a  cry  of  pain,  struck  him  to  the  earth  with  a  half  dozen  dagger- 
blows  between  the  shoulders. 

In  all  haste  the  murderer  rummaged  the  pockets  of  the  corpse. 

After  having  detached  a  heavy  waist-belt,  which  contained  in  coin,  dust  and 
some  fine  halt-inch  "  moccasin"  pieces  upwards  of  three  thousand  dollars,  Three- 
fingers  retreated  at  a  run  to  the  cabin,  where  he  flung  himself  on  the  bed  for 
repose. 

Four  or  five  hours  afterwards,  in  dashed  Joaquin  and  Valenzuela. 

The  first  ran  straight  up  to  Jack  and,  with  a  violent  shake,  tore  him  out  of 
his  slumber. 

"  What's  up  now  ?"  demanded  the  latter,  at  the  point  of  using  his  weapons. 

"  A  man's  body  has  been  found  on  the  highway,"  was  the  answer,  "  ^nd  from 
the  number  of  useless  wounds,  I  believe  that  he  can  only  have  been  laid  out  by 
you," 

"  Are  you  quite  sure  of  it  ?" 

"Yes.!  so  sure  that  I  want  no  denial  of  it.  .But  do  you  know  who  it  is  you 
killed?" 

"  No.  I  ain't  sure  I  did  kill.  He  has  probably  eaten  some  poison  oak 
leaves  for  tobacco." 

"  No  nonsense." 

"  No,  in  truth,"  made  answer  Garcia,  assuming  an  air  of  mock  humility,"  and 
I  must  say  an  idea  that  you  might  have  need  of  a  little  funds,  and  I  made  that 
game  come  down  with  the  dust.  I  have  the  honor,"  concluded  he  with  Mexican 
gracefulness  and  politeness,  brute  as  he  was,  "  to  present  to  you  the  result  of 
my  hunt,  and  a  very  pleasant  heft  it  has !" 

"  Very  well,  Jack,"  said  the  chief  as  he  weighed  in  his  hand  the  money-belt 
held  out  to  him,  "  certainly  it's  a  nice  round  sum,  and  comes  in  very  handy,  fbr 
the  water  was  going  down  on  the  bar.  The  trouble  of  the  thing  is  that,  as  I 
have  reason  to  believe,  the  man  who  ran  against  your  knife  is  one  of  the  two 
miners  of  whom  we  bought  this  shanty.  They  could  not  resist  having  a  fare- 
Iwell  bender,  and  they  have  been  spending  money  furiously  all  around.  The 
'mate  of  this  one,  I  hear,  is  at  Sonora  and  ten  to  one,  he  will  tell  about  the!  sale 
and  bring  suspicion  on  us." 

"  What  do  you  think  of  doing  in  that  case  ?"  inquired  Jack. 
1     "  Stay  myself  here  for  a  day  or  so,  while  you  and  Valenzuela  put  off  hot  foot 
for  Stockton.     Clarina  and  Marquita  are  already  en  the  way  with  Cardoza,  and 
you  will  probaby  catch  up  to  them  before  they  get  to  the  town." 
4 


50  Jvaguin,  (the   Clai.de  Duval  of  California); 

"  And  he  had  best  start  at  once,  both  of  us  as  you  say,"  said  Valenzuela  "  To 
horse !" 

In  a  few  minutes,  the  steeds  were  saddled  and  bitted. 

Jack^nd  the  last  speaker  galloped  off  at  the  designated  direction,  and  their 
leader  rode  away  slowly  towards  Sonora. 

The  dawn  was  breaking,  and  the  gain  ing-hells  were  being  choked  up  already 
with  blacklegs  and  outsiders,  all  conversing  animatedly  about  the  Last  Horrid 
Murder,  and  expressing  great  unanimity  on  only  wishing  they  had  the  assassin 
in  their  power  to  lynch  him. 

Joaquin  dismounted  and  tranquilly  strode  into  a  saloon  for  play,  his  cloak 
arranged  in  the  Mexican  style. 

He  gave  a  nod  10  those  of  his  countrymen  whom  he  knew,  took  a  stool  and 
seated  himself  in  a  corner  of  the  place  not  far  from  the  door. 

There  was  a  deal  of  stress  laid  on  the  brutality  of  the  murderer,  who  seemed 
to  have  found  devilish  delight  in  inflicting  gash  upon  gash  on  the  victim,  although 
any  one  of  them  almost  would  have  been  mortal. 

This  remark  set  everybody  to  swearing  most  energetically  that  they  would 
tarn  every  stone  to  get  hold  of  the  guilty. 

"  Blast  me,  with  poor  powder  too,"  said  one  in  the  principal  crowd,  as  he 
banged  the  counter  with  a  not  delicate  fist,  "  if  I'd  be  one  bit  astonished  if 
them  greasers  had  a  hand  in  our  friend's  going  under." 
"  What  greasers  f  asked  some  one. 

"  Why,  them  bloody  Mexicans,  of  course,  who  bought  out  the  river  claim. 
Why  did  they  buy  it "?  I  don't  know  and  don't  want  to  guess.  But  there's 
one  d —  sure  thing,  that  they  haven't  done  one  hour's  streak  of  work.  Riding 
around  like  circus-men  in  the  States,  playing  monte  all  day  long  like  reg'lar 
professionals,  singing,  laughing,  chinking  full  and  heaping  over — that's  their 
style  of  living  since  they  have  kept  house  in  this  location." 

"  That's  so,  if  it  ain't  may  I  never  lift  pick  agin'  or  see  t'other  side  the  Is'mus!" 
said  a  third,  as  tall  and  slender  as  the  first  was  stumpy  and  thickset.  "By 
George,  it's  the  truth !  no  one  can  say  where  them  Mexicans  of  the  deuce  rake 
ki  the  dough.  Their  pockets  don't  dry  up,  anyhow !" 

"  Swallow  me  up  in  a  sand-storm !"  thundered  the  first  who  had  spoken  ; 
*  just  give  a  squint  over  yonder,  Johnny  !     May  I  never  cross  the  plains  agin, 
if  there  ain't  one  of  that  Satan' §  own  crowd  squatting  before  us  as  cool  as  a 
eowcumber  in  a  jar  of  vinegar  !" 
He  levelled  his  finger  at  Joaquin. 

"  It  is  one  of  'em,  as  true  as  you  live !  If  he  understood  English,  he'd  be 
shivering  in  his  yellow  skin — by  all  the  blue  blazers,  I'll  go  take  his  hide — 
see!" 

Joaquin  had  not  lost  one  word  of  the  above  elegant  conversation.  Yet  he 
had  dwelt  unaffected  until  the  end,  and  all  he  did  was  smile  and  rise  with  the 
utmost  willingness  when  the  man  strode  over  to  him  and  laid  his  heavy  hand 
upon  his  shoulder,  saying : 

"  I'm  a-thinking  you're  caught  at  last,  my  old  boy." 

The  captive,  before  the  smile  had  quitted  his  lips,  had  drawn  his  revolver, 
reversed  it  and  dealt  his  captor  a  most  vigorous  and  swinging  blow,  at  which, 
with  dented  temple,  the  American  fell  his  whole  length  on  the  "  puncheon" 
floor. 

With  a  wild  cat's  leap,  the  chief  of  the  bandits  was  out  of  the  saloon,  and  in 
a  second  more  the  clatter  of  horse's  hoofs  resounded  without  on  the  way  tc 
Stockton. 

The  Californian  Claude  Duval  was  once  more  free. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  51 


CHAPTER    X. 

GLITTERING  BAIT. AMBUSH  AT  SAN  ANDREAS. CARDOZA  IS  QUITS  WITH  MAR- 

QUITA. — "  DOCTOR"  JACK  AND  THE  SICK  MAN. — HOW  TWO  OF 
THE  GALLOWS-BIRDS  WENT  TO  ROOST. 

ONE  day  was  all  that  was  required  by  the  escaped  highwayman  to  overtake 
his  comrades,  whom  he  found  at  table  in  a  Chicago  frame  house  called  a  tavern, 
half  a  dozen  miles  out  of  the  town  named  after  the  Commodore  of  so  much  ser 
vice  to  the  state  and  the  Union.  He  acquainted  them  in  a  few  words  what  he 
had  been  doing,  and,  on  that,  all  jumped  into  saddle  again.  Another  hour 
sufficed  to  bring  them  to  the  end  of  their  journey.  * 

On  the  following  day,  just  after  sundown,  Joaquin,  Valenzuela  and  the  three- 
fingered  miscreant,  as  they  strolled  along  the  levee,  suddenly  had  their  gaze 
attracted  by  three  American  miners  who  were  making  that  immense  display 
which  has  vulgarly  received  the  title  of  "  splurge." 

They  were  dressed  in  new  suits  of  dark  green,  of  which  they  had  replaced  the 
buttons  by  good  sized  pepites  or  pieces  of  scale-gold. 

One  wore  on  his  breast,  like  a  European  order,  a  prong  of  a  sluice-fork,  the 
whole  tine  of  which  was  heavily  gilt ;  another  was  similarly  decorated  with  a 
cradle-spoon,  covered  as  well  with  the  precious  ore. 

The  third,  except  his  glazed  cap  had  a  nice  little  lump  of  some  fifty  or  sixty 
dollars  worth  of  metal  over  its  peak,was  unlike  the  others  as  to  carrying  trophies 
of  the  trade. 

They  strutted  with  an  air  which  proved  that  they  were  out  merely  to  exhibit 
themselves. 

"  A  pretty  set,"  remarked  the  chief,  "  they  seem  to  be  a  least  bit  vain." 

"  I  should  say  so,"  said  Valenzuela,  "  and  if  it  is  founded  on  a  solid  base 
they  ought  to  be  owners  of  a  little  of  the  ore." 

"  I  was  just  thinking  the  same,"  chimed  in  Garcia,  instinctively  feeling  for  hi* 
knife ;  "  they'll  have  to  have  a  six-inch  steel  shaft  sunk  into  'em." 

As  he  concluded  his  threat,  the  three  cynosures  stalked  into  an  eating-house. 
Joaquin,  ordering  his  followers  to  await  his*return,  no  sooner  saw  them  dis 
appear,  then  he  darted  after  them. 

He  entered  the  saloon  and  sat  down  at  a  table  not  far  from  the  Americans'. 

In  less  than  ten  minutes,  while  trifling  with  a  cup  of  a  queer  decoction  digrii 
fied  by  the  name  of  coffee  and  charged  just  as  much  for,  he  gathered  all  the  in 
formation  of  which  he  stood  in  need. 

Rejoining  his  satellites,  he  turned  back  with  them  on  the  way  to  the  house  iii 
which  they  had  temporarily  installed  themselves  in  the  Mexican  quarter  of  ttio 
town,  and,  as  soon  as  the  horses  were  baited,  off  to  San  Andreas. 

When  four  miles  from  Stockton,  they  pulled  up,  hid  the'  horses  in  the  chap- 
paral,  and  themselves  in  the  brush  near  the  roadside. 

"  Our  men  will  be  here  very  soon,"  remarked  the  captain.  "  On  the  eve  of 
taking  the  back  trail  to  their  native  land  with  the  fortune  which  they  boast  of 
having  amassed  here,  they  talk  of  starting  for  San  Francisco  to-morrow.  An 
other  ought  to  have  joined  them  at  Stockton  at  three  o'clock  to-day,  but,  as  he 
hadn't  turned  up,  they  are  returning  to  San  Andreas  to  find  him." 

"A  regular  windfall  for  us,"  said  Valenzuela,  "it  oils  the  wheel  for  on* 
idea." 

"  Hark  !  I  think  I  hear  them,"  growled  Three-fingered  Jack,  as  he  thrust  his 
head  through  the  bushes. 

"  Indeed,  here  they  come,"  agreed  Joaquin.  "  Wait  till  they're  fairly  abreast 
of  us  and  then,  boys,  upset  the  cabaleros." 


52  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

The  three  miners,  at  a  gentle  gallop,  were  approaching. 

They  could  be  heard  dilating  openly  on  the  prospect  of  the  old  scenes  again 
and  their  "  sure  thing"  on  marriages,  and  so  forth. 

How  they  were  going  to  make  the  money  fly,  how  they  would  stand  treat  for 
years  at  Eastern  village-taverns,  how  they  would  buy  a  house  for  this  friend 
of  theirs,  how  they'd  half-kill  some  enemy  and  buy  off  justice.  They  chatted 
of  their  luck  at  the  placers,  and  laughed  to  think  of  the  envy  felt  by  their  fellow- 
workmen  at  their  sudden  departure. 

And  they  so  sang,  so  laughed,  and  told  such  joyous  stories  that  it  proved 
that  no  foreboding  was  putting  them  on  the  alert  against  the  ambuscade  of  evil. 
Hardly  had  they  come  up  to  the  place  where  lay  the  banditti  in  wait  than  the 
latter,  springing  up  from  the  concealment  like  partridges  on  a  "  rise"  from  the 
tall  grass,  grasped  the  reins  of  the  horses,  and,  before  the  unfortunate  miners 
had  time  to  overcome  the  surprise,  a  volley  at  point-blank  blew  out  their  brains 
and  emptied  their  saddles.. 

The  corpses  were  carefully  stripped  and  dragged  off  into  a  thicket. 

Altogether,  the  three  yielded  nearly  eight  thousand  dollars  in  gold,  dust  and 
grain. 

This  profitable  waylaying  over,  the  chief  and  Jack  Three  fingers  started  off 
in  search  of  a  new  refuge,  while  Valenzuela  returned  towards  Stockton  to  escort 
the  two  women  and  Cardoza. 

That  same  evening,  the  whole  party  came  together  once  more,  on  the  way  into 
El  Dorado  County.  They  crossed  part  of  Sacramento  County  and  encamped 
on  the  south  fork  of  American  River. 

In  a  few  days,  they  were  joined  by  Hernando  Fontes  and  his  cluster  of 
rogue-grapes,  one  of  the  number  of  which,  while  scouting  among  the  fringe  of 
tules,  had  espied  the  leader  and  his  followers  and  hastened  to  inform  his  supe 
rior. 

Fontes  had  been  charged  with  collecting  all  the  horses  he  could  run  off  and, 
from  different  districts,  he  had  already  driven  close  upon  four  hundred  to  the 
main  rendezvous. 

He  told  Joaquin,  that  Antonio  and  Guerra  had  returned  from  Sonora  to  the 
Arroyo,  each  bringing  a  new  mistress. 

The  captain  was  well  satisfied  with  the  intelligence. 

For  an  instant,  he  was  on  the  point  of  departing  with  all  his  gang  to  the 
headquarters,  so  impatient  was  he  to  learn  the  details  of  his  lieutenant's  enter 
prises  and  to  see  the  new  senoritas,  but  private  affairs  of  much  higher  impor 
tance  decided  him  to  defer  for  sometime  the  pleasure  he  proposed  to  himself. 
Profiting,  however,  by  the  occasion  presenting  itself,  he  made  Clarina  and  Mari- 
quita  go  to  the  Arroyo,  entrusting  them  to  the  guard  of  Cardoza,  Fernando  and 
of  a  couple  of  other  Mexicans. 

In  this  way,  he  gave  them  rest  from  their  fatigues,  at  the  same  time  that  he 
shielded  them  from  the  perils  to  which  he  and  his  might  yet  be  exposed  before 
they,  too,  could  reach  the  asylum. 

The  two  young  women  had  hardly  left  the  camp  with  their  guard,  than  a 
dispute  arose  between  Mariquita  and  her  lover. 

The  former  asserted  very  plainly  that  the  latter  was  not  to  be  compared  to 
her  preceeding  flame  Gonzalez  as  regarded  affection  for  her,  and  declared  that 
she  would  not  have  anything  to  do  with  him  thereafter. 

Cardoza,  finding  that  he  suffered  shameful  defeat  in  a  war  of  words  with  her, 
cut  a  dainty  little  switch  from  the  hedge  and  used  it  up,  bark,  inner  peel,  wood 
and  pith,  to  a  few  inches  upon  the  rebel's  shoulders. 

The  latter  submitted  to  all  appearance,  with  resignation  most  full  and  hum 
ble ;  but  she  was  really  revolving  plans  of  revenge. 

On  the  following  day,  as  they  both  were  ascending  slowly  a  pathway  which 
wound  among  the  peaks  and  crags  of  a  very  steep  sierra,  the  vindictive  Mari- 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  53 

quita  seized  the  opportunity  when  they  were  on  the  brink  of  a  precipice  more 
than  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  deep  and,  plucking  her  tiny  but  sharp  dag 
ger  from  her  bosom,  buried  its  needle-like  blade  over  her  lover's  shoulder  in 
his  heart. 

Cardoza  uttered  a  low  moan,  and  tried  to  turn  around,  but,  as  he  attempted 
this,  his  horse  reared,  slipped  and  toppled  over. 

Down  they  went,  rider  and  steed,  to  the  bottom.  Mariquita  had  so  dextrousl  v 
and  quickly  executed  her  project  that  nobody  at  all  had  been  witness  of  it. 
By  the  time  the  rest  came  up,  she  had  restored  the  weapon  to  its  place. 
She  went  so  far  even  as  to  pour  out  a  profusion  of  tears,  very  bitter,  seem 
ingly,  over  the  loss. 

It  may  be  that  they  were  the  work  of  remorse. 

But  in  any  event,  her  grief  was  not  of  long  duration.  The  try  sting-place  had 
been  no  sooner  attained,  than,  her  gaiety  returning,  the  merry  murderess  had 
accepted  as  third  gallant  a  young  fellow  named  Manuel  Sevalio. 

Two  days  afterwards,  Joaquin  heard  of  the  accident  that  was  said  to  have  be 
fallen  one  of  his  command.  Fernando  having  despatched  one  of  his  men  to 
carry  the  tidings,  and  thought  it  strange  that  so  good  a  cavalier  had  had.  this 
happen  to  him. 

It  seemed  impossible  that  any  failure  on  his  part  had  led  to  the  catastrophe. 
With  a  dozen  of  his  bandits,  he  went  with  them  to  the  place  to  ferret  out  the 
facts  and  to  bury  the  victim. 

They  used  a  different  road  to  that  taken  by  the  former  party  and  descended 
to  where  lay  the  cavalier  and  his  horse. 

The  corpse  was  closely  examined,  but  it  had  been  so  cut  by  the  points  of 
rocks  below  that  the  puncture  of  the  poignard  was  perfectly  past  perception. 
After  having  carefully  removed  all  the  arms  and  valuables  upon  the  body,  the 
robbers  tumbled  it  into  a  hole  in  the  sand  and  left  him  alone  in  his  homicidal 
and  felonious  glory. 

At  the  end  of  another  week,  Joaquin,  accompanied  by  Three-fingered  Jack, 
Valenzuela  and  Fernando's  troop,  in  all  six-and-twenty  proved  rascals,  took  to 
the  road  to  recommence  depredations  in  El  Dorado  County,  as  well  as  in  the 
neighboring  one  of  Calaveras. 

On  coming  near  Mud  springs,  an  isolated  hut  on  the  hillside  drew  their  gaze 
to  it. 

Believing  it  to  be  unoccupied  and  seeing  at  first  glance  that  it  was  an  excel 
lent  place  in  which  to  spend  the  night,  Jack  clapped  spurs  to  his  horse,  rushed 
up  the  plane,  jumped  off  in  front  of  the  hut  and,  throwing  open  the  door,  walked 
in  unceremoniously. 

Contrary  to  the  idea  that  had  sprung  up,  the  dwelling  was  occupied. 
The  tenant  was  a  foreigner  who  was  kept  to  his  bed  by  some  serious  ailment, 
and  thus  gave  to  the  surroundings  all  that  appearance  of  abandonment  and 
loneliness  which  had  deceived  the  gentlemen  of  the  highway. 

"  Hullo  !  sick  man  !"  exclaimed  Jack,  seeing  the  couched  person  move. 

"  Pour  1'amour  de — love  of  God,  a  doct "  murmured  the  low,  weak  voice 

most  supplicatingly. 

"  I'm  a  doctor,"  replied  Jack,  disengaging  his  knife.  "  Kill  or  cure  is  my 
motto  !" 

And  he  drew  his  steel  across  the  sick  man's  wasted,  yellow  throat. 
Two  or  three  of  his  comrades  lent  a  hand  and  they  carried  the  body  outside 
and  tossed  it  into  a  near-at-hand  ravine. 

Thereupon  the  gang  took  possession  of  the  hovel,  which  they  found  to  be  not 
poorly  supplied  with  all  kinds  of  provisions,  blankets,  mining  implements, 
pipes  and,  of  course,  a  fair  stock  of  the  Virginian  weed. 

Operations  were  commenced  on  the  latter  by  making  up  a  lot  of  it  into 
cigarettes  which  kept  them  smoking  for  a  couple  of  hours ;  then  they  spread  out 


54  Joaquiiij  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

their  blankets,wrapped  themselves  up  and  dropped  off  qu  etly  into  slumber. 

As  the  Aurora,  with  her  sunny  pencil,  began  laying  the  colors  on  the  early 
sky,  the  commanding  bandit  sent  off  three  men  to  the  Mud  Springs  Camp  to 
procure  coffee  and  butter  and  whatever  else  was  required  by  the  dainty  appetites 
of  his  freebooters. 

In  about  two  hours,  one  of  them  came  back,  not  only  alone  but  empty-hand 
ed. 

'"  Where,  are  the  rest  of  you  T'  inquired  the  chief. 

"  Dead  !"  answered  the  man. 

«  Dead— how  ?" 

The  returned  one  drew  his  finger  around  his  neck  and  then  lifted  himself  by 
the  ear. 

"  Hanged  ?"  asked  all. 

"  Hung  like  beef.  Yes,  captain  and  comrades  mine.  Hardly  had  we  set 
foot  in  the  cursed  settlement,  and  had  they  two  went  into  a  grocery  to  buy, 
while  I  stopped  at  a  bar  for  my  eye-opener,  talking  to  the  owner  of  the  posade 
who  was  a  Mexican,  than  I  heard  a  h —  of  a  row  outside.  I  looked.  Four  or 
five  Yankees  had  hold  of  my  mates,  covering  them  with  bowies  and  six-shooters. 
One,  with  dreadful  loud  lungs,  was  shouting  that  he  recognized  Sebastiano 
el  Carpintero  for  a  horse-thief,  who  had  even  run  off  not  a  few  head  from  his 
own  raache  in  Sacramento  Valley,  in  eighteen-fifty,  and,  after  being  trapped  had 
broken  prison. 

And  he  went  on  to  cry  in  that  same  loud  voice,  that  his  partner  must  be  one 
of  the  same  tribe  or  else  he  wouldn't  be  along  with  him.  Just  as  if  that  proved 
anything,"  remarked  the  bandit ;  "  why,  I've  been  with  honest  men  often  and 
I—" 

"  Never  was  mistaken  for  one,"  said  Garcia. 

"  Jes'  so.  However,  there  was  no  getting  the  best  of  the  crowd  that  that 
noisy  brute  scared  up.  While  they  hauled  up  my  mates  to  an  ugly  tree,  I 
slipped  through  the  back  window  of  the  bar  and  quit." 

"  A  confoundedly  provoking  story,"  said  Joaquin.  "  We  must  leave  this 
forthwith.  If  it  weren't  for  the  fact  that  I  want  to  do  something  more  import 
ant,  with  my  men,  we  would  go  down  into  the  Springs  and  lay  waste  the  whole 
paltry  camp.  But  the  Yankees  may  hold  their  horses,  they  shan't  lose  any 
thing  by  not  getting  their  dose  right  away.  To  horse,  boys,  and  away." 

In  a  trice,  the  pirates  of  the  placers  were  mounted  and  pushing  their  horses 
on  at  such  a  pace  as  the  pony-express  man  may  take  when  the  redskins  are 
after  the  mail.  At  first,  good  care  wras  taken  not  to  describe  a  straight  line ; 
by  zigzags  and  detours  they  moved,  and  after  making  many  stoppages  at  various 
places,  sometimes  to  despoil  a  traveler  and  at  others  to  bait  the  steeds,  the  band 
drew  rein  on  an  eminence  of  sad  and  gloomy  aspect  about  a  mile  from  Salmon 
Falls. 

There  they  passed  the  night. 

The  spot  seemed  to  have  been  formed  expressly  by  nature  for  the  use  to 
which  they  put  it. 

Almost  entirely  concealed  by  the  rocks  all  around,  the  wall  having  its  gaps 
and  chinks  filled  up  thickly  with  inextricably  woven  briars,  there  was  a  central 
clearing  of  twenty  feet  or  so  in  diameter,  which  was  the  most  comfortable  and 
safe  of  all  robbers'  retreats. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  55 

CHAPTER     XI. 

THE     STORY    OF    THE     DESPERADO     CHIEF. RUNNING    THE    GAUNTLET. THE    MAW 

HUNTERS  COME    TO    GRIEF. THE  GERMANS  TRICKED. 

i 

AFTER  the  necessary  care  had  been  taken  of  the  horses,  native-bred  ones  that 
can  beat  any  in  the  world  for  a  long  journey  at  full  speed,  the  party  proceeded 
to  attend  to  the  comestibles  which  had  been  obtained  during  the  day,  after 
which  meal,  the  cigars  had  their  turn. 

"  My  lads,"  said  Valenzuela,  "  a  fellow  hears  nothing  but  hangings  now-a- 
days.  It  is  fatiguing,  muchacos.  The  Yankees  are  a  mean-spirited  set  to  never 
let  a  man  die  unless  in  the  air.  We  Mexicans  at  least  half  the  time  prefer  to 
give  less  elevated  deaths." 

"  Your'e  right  there,"  said  Carillo  ;  "  hanging  is  a  poor  idea.-  But  the  Ameri 
cans  will  believe  in  it ;  they're  brought  up  to  it  from  their  birth.  Listen  t© 
them  and  you'll  hear  them  swear  '  hang  it !'  they  '  hang  out '  instead  of  live  ; 
'  hang'  round  bars  instead  of  '  bumming  ' ;  have  pistols  that  don't  '  hang  '  fire 
as  often  as  I  wish,  and  so  they  go  on.  They  must  either  hang  or  be  hanged  that's 
a  fact.  But,  look  here,  seeing  we  may  not  be  able  to  keep  them  from  stringing 
our  friends  up,  what  prevents  us  swinging  in  the  breeze  every  one  of  them  we 
catch  r 

"  Bah  !"  growled  three-fingered  Jack,  "  it's  a  poor  system  !  When  I  kill  any 
one,  I  want  to  see  the  '  color'  of  his  blood.  Carajo,  dry  up  with  your  execu 
tioner's  talk.  Let  them  rope  as  they  please — I  stick  to  steel  and  lead  !" 

"  Comrades,"  said  Joaquin,  "  more  than  any  one  amongst  you  have  I  suffered 
by  the  passion  of  the  Yankees  for  hanging  people,  for  I  saw  my  own  brother 
strangled.  He  never  had  done  any  harm.  It  was  at  a  time  when  I  could 
neither  save  him  or  punish  the  wrong-doers ;  but  since  I  have  taken  my  re 
venge  and  I  continue  to  seek  it.  But  a  truce  to  such  sad  topics.  Let  me  re 
late  to  you  an  adventure  that  happened  to  me  not  long  ago  in  Tuolumne 
County." 

"  Yes,  yes  !  hooray  for  the  captain's  story  !"  exclaimed  all  voices.  "  Silence !" 

"  I  was  entering  upon  the  pursuit  we  gentlemen  of  the  highway  have  the 
honor  to  carry  on  at  the  present  speaking,"  began  the  bandit  leader.  "  I  went 
into  Tuolumne  County  with  my  followers,  amounting  to  the  not  very  powerful 
array  of  seven  all  told,  to  the  little  camp  of  San  Diego,  half  a  mile  about  from 
Columbia,  you  know,  which  I  found  to  be  a  place  suiting  us  for  many  reasons. 
During  daylight,  we  kept  busy  at  work  killing  and  plundering  the  diggers, 
whether  we  met  them  in  small  sets  roaming  about  for  placers,  or  mining  in 
solitary  spots  after  a  good  result  to  their  prospecting.  When  the  sun  went 
down,  we  would  go  and  leave  in  the  hells  of  the  town  part  or  all  of  the  money 
thus  made  by  marauding. 

"  As  a  matter  of  course,  in  paying  these  visits  to  the  monte's  quicksands  that 
swallow  up  one's  funds  so  fast,  I  had  to  change  dresses  every  time  almost  so  as 
not  to  be  known  but  to  be  thought  in  every  new  saloon  a  stranger.  Among 
those  who  had  seen  enough  of  me  in  other  days  to  have  recognised  me  was  one 
constable  of  the  name  of  Leary,  whom  I  especially  took  heed  to  steer  clear  from 
for  fear  that  he  would  dive  under  my  disguise  and  force  me  to  stand  on  the 
defensive.  Besides,  he  was  about  the  only  man  in  the  whole  once  blessed  State 
at  whom  I  hated  to  level  my  revolver,  for  he  had  never  treated  me  otherwise 
than  with  the  utmost  courtesy  and  friendship.  As  I  knew  that  he  was  fully 
posted  on  my  goings-on  and  as  I  thought  that — being  a  sworn  officer  and  a  man 
of  honor  as  well — he  would  employ  all  his  skill,  courage  and  energy  to  make 
sure  of  my  arrest  and  punishment,  I  was  determined,  as  I  say,  to  never  cross 
his  path. 

"  Now,  one  evening,  it  came  to  pass  that  I  neglected  a  part  of  my  disguise 


56  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California); 

which  I  was  in  the  habit  of  wearing :  my  false  beard  was  bothersome,  and  I 
believed  that  I  could  manage  well  enough  to  hide  my  face  in  my  cloak.  On 
coming  out  of  a  certain  gambling-house  at  midnight,  I  took  great  pains,  indeed, 
to  muffle  up  my  head  in  the  folds.  As  ill  luck  would  have  it,  just  as  I  stood 
on  the  threshold,  Leary  came  along  and  went  in,  giving  me  a  very  sharp  look 
as  he  jostled  me.  I  pretended  to  notice  him  in  no  way  ;  but,  the  moment  I 
touched  the  street,  I  set  off  at  a  run  through  the  dark  and  reached  our  rallying 
place. 

"  Day  had  not  dawned  that  morning,  before  I — being  on  the  lookout,  for  I 
always  look  to  my  companions'  safety  before  my  own — dcn't  I,  boys !" 

'*  Yes,  yes  !  jou're  a  glorious  captain,"  cried  all. 

Joaquin  bou  ed  thanks. 

"  Just  at  da}  break  then,  I  saw  suddenly  shoot  up  into  sight  a  number  of  men 
coming  on  quickly  towards  our  tent,  led  by  Leary.  You  may  bet  that  I  had 
no  trouble  to  guess  what  they  were  after.  I  woke  up  my  slumbering  men  and 
all  of  us,  understanding  that  to  fly  was  the  only  course,  slipped  out  and  dashed 
down  the  road  with  all  the  speed  we  had.  A  volley  whistled  by  us,  but  did  no 
harm.  They  followed  and  cut  off  three  of  us,  but  they — gallant  fellows  ! — 
though  I  feared  that  they  were  never  to  cry  '  Stand'  again — fought  as  fiercely 
as  a  cub-robbed  grizzly,  and  regained  their  freedom,  not  the  least  hurt.  I  alone 
was  wounded,  Leary  shot  me  in  the  shoulder  at  the  last  fire,  as  they  gave  up  the 
chase. 

"  We  were  both  on  foot,  you  must  know,  which  was  what  helped  our  flight, 
so  greatly,  for  we  were  lighter  men  than  the  big-boned  six-foot  Americans,  and 
travelled  the  narrow  pathways  in  the  grey  light  far  swifter  than  they.  So  we 
threw  Mr.  Leary  off  our  trail,  and  found  a  new  retreat  which  defied  discovery. 
That  was  the  first  time  that  I  was  pursued,  hunted  by  the  enemy ;  but,  if  I  had 
had  the  good  luck  to  have  counted  several  more  helping  hands,  I  vow  to  you 
that  I  would  not  have  yielded  an  inch." 

"  Bravo  !"  cried  the  auditors,  whose  voices  united  to  propose  a  toast  to  their 
leader's  health. 

On  the  following  day,  the  bandits  encountered  one  of  their  countrymen  who 
was  driving  between  forty  and  fifty  mules,  all  laden  with  bales  of  provisions. 
They  purchased  of  him  a  large  quantity  of  flour,  coffee,  sugar,  frijoles  and  other 
articles,  and  continued  their  march  until  they  had  gained  the  end  of  a  lonely 
prairie,  well  covered  with  trees,  under  one  of  which  they  camped. 

The  understanding  was  that  they  would  remain  there  a  week  or  ten  days  to 
give  the  animals  time  to  recover  strength  and  the  men  freedom  to  rest  and 
amuse  themselves. 

At  the  place  where  begins  the  south  branch  of  the  Mokelumne  River,  in  a 
deserted  tract,  not  far  from  the  boundary  line  of  the  Counties  of  Calaveras  and 
El  Dorado,  was  established  a  mining  company  composed  of  five-and-twenty. 

Being  out  prospecting  one  day,  well  armed  of  course,  they  had  chanced  upon 
this  site,  and,  discovering  indications  of  rich  deposits,  they  had  hastened  to 
pitch  their  canvas  house  there,  well  satisfied  with  a  spot  which  had  merely  the 
one  disadvantage  of  being  far  away  from  dwellings. 

One  morning,  as  they  were  finishing  the  hearty  breakfast  of  smoked  beef,  salt 
pork  and  ship's  bread,  a  young  man  on  horseback  came  along,  stopped  and  ad 
dressed  them. 

He  was  chiefly  remarkable  for  very  fine  black  hair  and  eyes. 

He  spoke  English  so  perfectly  that,  though  he  looked  like  a  Mexican  or  a 
native  Californian,  he  might  have  been  a  man  of  the  States  under  Mason  and 
Dixon's  line. 

They  heartily  pressed  him  to  dismount  and  take  a  bite,  or  a  pull  at  a  brandy 
bottle,  but  he  politely  refused. 


GA,    The  Marauder  c/  the  Mines.  57 

He  throw  one  leg  ovei  his  horse's  neck,  however,  and  sat  something  like  a 
(ady  on  a  side-saddle,  and,  finding  himself  at  his  ease  by  that  means,  he  chat- 
«e,d  freely  on  different  matters  more  or  less  relative  to  the  one  topic  of  the 
day,  gold,  until  he  saw  one  of  the  miners,  who  had  gone  to  a  spring  to  get 
rfoine  unmuddied  drinking  water,  return. 

"Jim  Boyce,  "  muttered  he  on  his  first  glance. 

He  threw  his  leg  into  place  again,  shook  himself  into  the  saddle  and  gave 
•^s  horse  both  spurs. 

tf  oyce  had  already  shouted  : 

"  That's  Joaquin  the  robber,  boys !     Quick,  quick,  fire !" 

While  he  cried,  he  shot  with  his  own  revolver  at  the  discovered  chief.  But 
iselessiy. 

The  factor  had  directed  his  horse  at  hazard  straight  up  on  the  bit  of  level  land 
thinking  to  nde  &long  it  and  off  down  the  end. 

But  passage  that  way  he  found  abruptly  cut  off  by  the  perpendicular  descent 
of  the  rocks. 

The  only  route  left,  a  scarcely  practicable  one,  was  a  narrow  path  which  ran 
along  the  face  of  a  ui^h  hill  for  fully  a  hundred  yards. 

The  rocks  over  which  IL  \\  ent,  overhanging  the  stream  on  the  other  side,  were 
in  the  same  line  as  tne  h*21  oii  which  the  miners  had  encamped  and  not  thirty 
yards  off*. 

To  venture  upon  sucn  mi  apology  for  a  riding  path  was  a  rough  act  for  any 
man,  even  a  Gaucho  of  the  I'arrx^as,  a  hunter  of  the  prairies,  an  English  rough- 
rider  or  a  "  Kit  Carson ''  to  (tttempc. 

Not  only  was  there  the  danger  ot  having  a  fall  from  the  top  of  the  rocks 
one  hundred  feet,  but  it  was  a  line  of  ao  le^s  than  a  hundred  or  a  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  on  which  he  had  to  move  within  range  of  the  large-sized  revolvers 
which  the  miners  carried,  no  toy  pop-guns,  mind  you,  but  ones  which  "  hit  to 
kill." 

Under  the  very  eyes  of  Joaquin,  as,  after  wheeling,  he  had  to  retrace  his 
steps,  stood  the  whole  company.  As  if  he  were  a  spboti.il  rider  on  a  phantom 
steed,  however,  he  flew  along  the  perilous  patn,  cabling  ihese  words  at  the 
marksmen  as  he  passed : 

"  I  am  Joaquin  !     Kill,  if  you  can  !" 

At  the  same  moment,  as  a  platoon  responds  to  the  officer  'A  \rovds,  the  five- 
and-twenty  pieces  cracked  in  a  dropping  fire,  but  most  of  tne  bullets,  with  that 
fault  which  generally  spares  a  man,  went  too  hi^n  and  flattened  on  the  stone 
beside  him,  and  now  behind  him. 

His  sombrero,  nevertheless,  struck  in  crown  and  bri?n  by  three  buiietb  aiid  a 
fourth  composed  of  two  that  had  "  wedded  "  themselves  in  the  flight,  strange  as 
that  may  seem,  flew  off,  flapping  its  torn  pieces  like  a  wounded  bird,  and  sailed 
downwards  after  a  circling  sweep. 

His  long  black  hair  floated  in  the  breeze  his  swift  rush  cauaed,  like  a  contin 
uation  of  the  horse's  mane. 

Time  was  too  precious  for  him  to  dream  of  returning  fire,  and  he  lelt  but 
too  plainly  that  safety  lay  only  in  speed. 

All  he  did,  Spaniard  like,  was  to  whip  out  his  dagger  and  flourish  it  over 
his  bare  head  in  contempt. 

The  arms  spat  fire  and  lead  once  more,  but  a  loud  shout  replied  through  tht 
woods  very  soon  after.  The  Pirate  of  the  Placers,  laughing  at  ihe  broadside, 
was  sailing  away  on  his  equine  clipper  to  the  harbor  of  his  crew. 

Now  Joaquin  was  acquainted  with  Mr.  Jim  Boyce,  and  he  was  aware  of  the 
latter  possessing  a  determined  character  which  it  was  hard  to  shake  from  any 
resolve  which  it  might  form.  It  was  probable  that  he  would  do 
towards  checking  the  exploits  of  the  brigand. 


58  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California]  ; 

Besides,  there  was  a  likelihood  of  his  having  some  knowledge  of  the  different 
rewards  offered  here  and  there  to  anybody  who  should  take  or  slay  the  maraud 
ers'  chief;  and,  rich  as  was  the  placer  which  his  friends  were  working,  they 
might,  for  the  money  down  of  the  rewards,  "  take  one  shy"  at  the  capture,  for 
they  could  leave  enough  of  their  association  on  the  spot  to  secure  claims. 

Miners'  Law  runs  that,  leave  your  grounds  for  the  smallest  space  of  time  and 
John  a-Nokes  or  John  a-Stiles,  first  passer-by,  may  stick  in  his  pick  and  say  : 
"These  diggings  are  mine — 'ware!  hands  off,  whether  you  please  or  no." 

A  risk  was  run  therefore  by  the  plunderers  by  remaining  any  longer  in  the 
present  halting-place,  which  was  hardly  three  miles  from  the  American  mines. 

Certain,  though,  that  the  foe  could  hardly  be  afoot  before  the  day's  end,  that 
time  being  fully  demanded  for  getting  together  of  horses  and  provender,  as  well 
as  preparation  of  weapons  and  munitions,  Joaquin  conceived  one  of  those  ideas, 
the  like  of  which  he  had  no  doubt  heard  of  having  often  been  carried  out  all 
along  the  Texas  border,  in  the  Staked  Plains,  the  Great  American  Desert,  the 
head-waters  of  the  Gila  and  Red  Rivers,  and  the  Cross  Timbers. 

His  design  was,  while  effectually  reducing  to  nothing  whatever  projects  the 
pursuers  might  combine,  to  make  the  hunted  ones  master  of  their  chasers' 
wealth. 

Knowing  that  there  is  no  reason  that  a  trail  cannot  be  laid  during  the  dark, 
but  sure  that — until  gas  shall  be  introduced  into  the  wilderness — it  is  impossi 
ble  to  follow  it  under  such  circumstances,  he  ordered  his  men  to  truss  up  the 
girths  of  the  horses  and  be  ready  to  journey  on  again. 

Not  a  question  was  put  of  course,  to  the  leader  at  so  seemingly  unwarranted 
a  command,  but  by  a  few  minutes,  all  were  ready,  toe  in  the  box-stirrups,  reins 
in  hand. 

Joaquin  put  himself  at  the  head,  and,  in  the  deepest  stillness,  the  cavalcade 
struck  due  east  through  the  long  avenues  of  sugar-pines  vaulted  over  head  with 
bluish  green  foliage.  The  pace  was  a  rapid  one  at  which  they  went  until  night 
fall,  by  which  period  they  had  got  over  twenty  miles.  They  pressed  on  as  long 
as  they  could  see,  and  at  length  halted. 

Fires  were  built  of  boughs,  pulled  down  by  lassoes,  to  keep  off  wild  beasts, 
for  in  the  woods,  the  smell  of  cooking  was  likely  to  attract  them. 

The  horses  were  tied  up  as  customary,  and  the  men  not  on  duty  rolled  them 
selves  up  in  their  zarapes. 

The  watchers  charged  to  attend  to  the  security  of  the  camp,  relieved  one  an 
other  every  half  hour  until  sunrise,  the  spells  of  guard  being  so  short  to  make 
each  sentry  the  sharper. 

At  the  first  peep,  all  were  aroused  'and  to  horse  once  more,  five  hours  had 
been  the  time  given  to  repose. 

Until  noon,  the  ground  was  got  over  with  the  same  celerity  as  on  the  pre 
vious  evening.  They  were  in  the  cup  of  a  most  enchanting  valley,  carpeted,  as 
Nature  delights  to  do  in  the  Golden  Paradise,  with  richest  flowers,  changing 
hues  and  species  month  after  month. 

It  was  watered  by  a  limpid  brooklet  which,  sweetly  singing,  stole  a  path 
through  the  roots  of  a  clump  of  trees. 

Twenty  miles  must  have  separated  the  fugitives  from  the  scene  of  their  night's 
encampment.  Two  hours'  pasturage  was  given  to  the  animals,  and  the  same 
time  for  feasting  to  the  masters. 

They  resumed  the  march,  after  having  left  marks  tending  to  make  the  pur 
suers  believe  that  they  had  passed  the  whole  night  there ;  though,  riding  on 
until  nightfall,  they  added  another  score  of  miles  to  the  space  between. 

They  made  a  short  stoppage,  lit  fires  and  ate  a  hasty  supper,  after  which, 
mounting,  they  traced  a  circuit  of  five  miles,  wheeled  suddenly  to  the  west,  and 
camped  at  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  a  day's  ride  from  their  last  stage. 

At  the  end  of  several  days  of  such  moves,  alternate  dashes  and  halts,  the  band 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Minei.  59 

found  themuelves  in  one  of  the  clearings  in  which  they  had  already  encamped. 

Jim  Boyce  and  his  friends  the  miners  had  indeed  taken  up  the  trail  of  the 
banditti,  on  the  following  day  to  that  on  which  Joaquin,  in  scouting  for  himself, 
had  entered  the  lion's  jaws. 

Every  night  they  halted  by  the  abandoned  fires,  hoping — a  very  natural  cal 
culation — that  eventually  they  would  come  in  contact  with  the  Mexicans,  how 
ever  far  the  latter  might  go.  They  were  not  experienced  "  trailers,"  or  they 
might  not  have  been  deceived  with  the  "  planted"  tracks. 

Joaquin  could  hardly  constrain  his  smile  of  immense  satisfaction  when  he 
discovered,  by  tokens  that  could  not  lie,  that  Boyce,  whom  he  considered  as  the 
most  dangerous  enemy,  had  fallen  into  the  trap  and  was  even  now  in  motion 
forward  quite  near  him. 

Night  was  come. 

After  having  galloped  all  day  long  over  mount  and  plain,  through  forest  and 
water,  the  chasers,  seated  at  ease  around  one  of  the  last  fires  of  Joaquin,  which 
they  had  raked  together  and  rekindled,  smoked  while  chatting  and  laughing. 

Their  tired  horses  did  not  reveal  the  proximity  of  strangers,  but  there  were 
strangers  indeed  in  the  shrubbery. 

The  robbers  had  crept  in  towards  the  campers-out  as  close  as  they  dared,  and 
their  extended  weapons  covered  each  a  breast  of  which  the  heart  was  soon  to 
cease  to  throb. 

All  of  a  sudden,  some  twenty  shots  rattled  out  one  close  upon  another  into  a 
long  blending  of  reports. 

The  ring  around  the  fire  burst  into  flame  for  a  moment  just  as  a  sable  cloud 
gapes  to  emit  the  lightning,  and  these  who  were  not  stricken  by  the  first  dis 
charge,  beheld  aghast  twelve  or  fifteen  of  them  stretched  on  the  ground. 

Another  volley  lessened  the  number  of  the  survivors. 

Panic-stricken,  the  only  two  Americans  left  unharmed  so  far — one  of  whom 
was  Boyce  himself — flung  themselves  into  the  thicket  and,  without  thinking  of 
choosing  any  particular  direction,  rushed  through  the  gloom  at  that  pace  as 
sumed  by  fugitives  when  they  fear  the  motto  is  :  deuce  take  the  hindmost. 

Joaquin  was  already  having  the  fire  revived,  for  a  dead  body  or  two'had 
fallen  across  it  and  scattered  the  embers,  and  was  searching  for  Mr.  Boyce  as 
earnestly  as  Edith  looking  over  the  heaps  of  dead  at  Hastings  for  the  last  of 
the"5 Saxon  kings. 

Jack  of  the  mutilated  hand,  springing  from  here  to  there  like  a  tigress 
robbed  of  young,  waving  his  dagger,  was  pitilessly  finishing  those  of  the  fallen 
who  still  breathed. 

It  may  or  it  may  not  be  known  to  everybody  that  the  death  resulting  from 
a  bullet  gives  the  corpse  extreme  pallor. 

The  bodies  extended  on  the  sward,  illumined  by  the  fitful  flaring  of  the  fire, 
presented  a  sight  so  hideous  and  repulsive,  especially  where  widely  open  eyes 
seemed  to  follow  you  everywhere  as  in  pictures,  that  the  captain  could  not  help 
a  shudder  seizing  him. 

"  If  you  have  searched  them  all,"  said  he,  "  let  us  be  off  from  here.  We 
will  camp  till  morning  in  a  more  cheerful  place." 

When  they  settled  down  for  the  night  in  a  neighboring  spot,  making  an  in 
road  into  the  liquors  by  leave  of  the  leader  for  rejoicing  over  the  almost  per 
fect  triumph,  on  the  principle  of  double-grog  being  served  out  to  the  tars  who 
have  beaten  off  a  pirate,  it  was  found  that  sleeping  would  have  to  be  deferred. 

Songs  and  stories  took  up  the  time.  One  of  the  latter  which  was  less  ex 
ceptionable  to  the  others  for  certain  reasons,  was  as  follows  : 

"  Now,  Carillo,  for  your  turn,"  saiA  the  bandits  to  the  one  who  was  lying 
comfortably  on  the  flat  of  his  back,  the  smoke  of  his  cigarette  curling  out  of 
both  mouth  and  nose. 

"  1  hardly  know  what  to  tell.     Anyhow,  here's  the  first  that  comes  to  mind. 

* 


60  Jooquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

Some  time  ago,  I  was  at  Calaveritas,  which,  became  warm,  in  truth,  to  me,  as 
you'll  see.  1  had  a  dispute  with  a  girl,  and,  forgetting  myself,  1  slapped  her  in 
the  face.  Oh,  I  know  I  was  wrong,  I  know  one  ought  never  to  strike  a  woman 
unless  it  is  to  strike  her  dead.  But  I  did  it.  She  left  the  house  with  that  look 
in  her  eye  that  spoke  loud  enough.  I  left  directly  after  her,  but  she  had  already 
given  the  alarm. 

The  whole  place  was  up  in  arms  against  me,  and  I  dared  not  leave  it  at  the 
time  as  every  Mexican  was  arrested  in  the  streets  and  made  to  give  an  account 
of  themselves.  I  was  securely  hid,  though. 

At  about  four  in  the  morning,  I,  dreading  daylight,  determined  to  attempt  a 
sortie,  and  I  did  get  out  of  the  village. 

But  who  should  I  espy  on  the  road  but  a  line  of  men,  whom  I  recognized  as 
a  lot  of  simple  Dutchmen  living  thereabouts,  whom  I  had  been  remarking  as 
they  had  shown  all  that  greenness  a  rider  of  the  road  liked  to  meet. 

An  idea  struck  me,  and  I  won't  say  that  the  last  two  or  three  drinks  which  1 
had  taken,  had  nothing  to  do  with  making  me  so  daredevilish. 

I  had  made  out  to  get  around  them,  leading  my  horse,  and  might  have  rode 
off  unchallenged,  but,  instead  of  that,  I  hid  my  nag  in  the  chapparal,  and  walked 
back  on  the  road. 

"  Standt  still,  you  !  or  I  shoot  you, !"  said  one  of  the  Dutchmen  in 

beautiful  English. 

"  Up  came  the  rest,  surrounding  me.  As  I  had  calculated,  all  had  the  guns 
which  they  had  brought  over  from  their  own  land,  I  suppose,  and  they  were 
not  the  men  to  purchase  hundred-dollar  Colt's.  I  laughed  to  myself.  I  pre 
tended  to  fancy  them  Joaquin's  gang,  ha,  ha !  only  putting  on  the  broken  En 
glish." 

"Does  I  look's  if  I  bees  a  Woukin1?"  roars  a  big  paunch,  who  would  make 
seven  of  our  chief. 

"  I  let  myself  be  convinced  after  a  while,  and  on  learning  that  they  were 
waiting  for  a  robber.  I  offered  to  stay  with  them  and  assist.  '  God  !  didn't  I 
run  myself  down  ?  I  said  I  knew  this  Carillo  for  having  taken  money  out  of 
my  pockets  at  least  once — no  lie  there,  amigos  !  I  called  myself  a  great  ras 
cal,  a  red-ball  of  villainy,  a  king-pin  of  wickedness,  a  knave  of  the  pack  of 
thieves.  In  a  word,  1  got  *  upon  an  egg'  with  'em  easily.  We  drank  together 
of  course.  Still  Carillo  did  not  come.  At  last,  says  I,  I  must  be  off  to  town, 
when,  just  as  I  was  going,  I  added  :' 

" '  1  may  meet  him,'  and  J  stopped.  '  Oh,  I  say,  if  you  hear  me  fire  any 
where  near  here,  you'll  run  up  and  help  ¥ 

"  '  Snalipolersneitchenbangtherrengaunterskinwett,'  says  one. 

"  '  What  V  says  I. 

"'Oh,  I  means  to  say — yaas,  yaas,  we  will  see  you  all  richt,  all  richt,  all 
richt,'  says  old  capacious  fifty  times  and  wagging  his  head. 

"  Off  I  went  towards  the  town.  I  wasen't  twenty  steps  off  before  I  set  up  a 
shouting  and  let  off  two  barrels  of  my  revolver.  Up  rolled  the  Dutchmen. 

" '  There  he  goes,  there,  there  !  fire,'  cried  I,  and  expended  another  charge. 

Bang,  bang,  bling,  bang !  went  their  young  cannon  of  fowling  pieces  and  ri 
fles. 

"  '  Where  is  de  teef  ?'  roared  the  head  man,  blowing  the  smoke  out  of  his 
heavy  goose-gun. 

"  *  Here  he  is,'  answered  I,  covering  them  with  my  revolver, '  down  with  youi 
blunderbusses  and  shell  out.' 

"  And  so  I  robbed  them  every  man,  and  ran  up  the  road.  By  the  time  they 
iwoke  from  the  start  I  gave  them,  I  was  half  a  mile  off." 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  01 


CHAPTER  XII. 

CARILLO  IS  CORRALLED. MELEE  AT  PHCENIX    QUARTZ    MILL.— A    CAMP  OF    CHINESE, 

TWO    AMERICANS,    FOUR    GERMANS. FLORESCO    PARTS  COMPANY  NOT 

EXACTLY    AS    HE    WISHED. JACK    HAS    A    FEAST. 

Two  or  three  days  later,  the  band  paid  a  visit  to  the  tent  of  the  luckless  as 
sociation  who  had  dropped  mining  to  take  up  man-hunting.  After  having 
attended  to  the  pack-mules  and  a  few  remaining  horses,  they  began  to  search 
for  the  o-old,  and  dug  up  cache'd  dust  to  the  value  of  fourteen  thousand  dollars. 
The  delTghted  ravagers  retired  to  Yacqui  Camp,  which  is  not  far  from  San  An- 
dreas,  where  they  had  a  retreat. 

On  the  morning  after  his  arrival  there,  J  oaqum  sent  of  half  a  dozen:  of  his 
coyotes  under  charge  of  Valenzuela  to  Arroyo  Cantuva  with  the  live  stock 
which  could  not  elsewhere  be  disposed  of,  and  with  greater  portion  of  the  gold. 
The  residue  of  the  robbers  he  kept  by  himself  and  began  a  series  of  ventures 
against  the  wayfarer  and  the  wealthy,  killing  and  plundering  everybody  who 
came  under  his  hands. 

For  many  miles  around  San  Andreas  and  Yacqui  Camp,  there  was  nothing 
talked  of  but  the  audacious  thefts  and  murders,  and  not  a  soul  could  tell  how 
they  had  been  committed  nor  how  the  stolen  goods  could  be  disposed-*of  and 
not  have  drawn  detection  upon  the  desperado  authors. 

Men  dotted  the  roads  here  and  there  and  yet  none,  coming  up  even  when  the 
body  was  warm,  had  seen  the  hand  that  dealt  the  blow. 

All  that  was  clear  was  the  unpleasant  certainty  that,  like  ghosts,  bravos  and 
pillagers  were  stalking  among  them  without  being  suspected. 

Hence,  on  every  side,  men  scrutinized  their  neighbors,  though  they  had 
known  them  for  months,  and  people  almost  drank  in  the  old  Danish  fashion, 
knife  in  hand. 

Captain  Ellis,  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county,  mustered  a  company  from  among 
the  bold  hearts  of  the  San  Andreas  citizens  and,  as  soon  as  possible,  took  up  the 
pursuit  of  the  highwaymen. 

'   Havino-  learnt  by  a  spy  that  Joaquin  was  at  Yacqui  Camp  and  that  one  < 
his  cano-  was  a  steady  customer  at  the  monte  table,  he  went  without  loss  of  time 
to  the  designated  place,  recognized  the  man  of  whom  he  had  receivec 
script  ion  and  arrested  him. 

Carillo,  for  he  it  was  that  had  been  betrayed  (some  say  by  that  woman 
whose  face  he  had  confessed  to  have  laid  his  palm  upon),  was  sentenced  to 
receive  a  short  shrift  and  a  long  rope  instanter,  as  an  assassin  and  thief,  but  he 
was  promised  pardon  if  he  would  reveal  the  secret  of  his  comrades  refuge. 

The  brigand  refused  disdainfully,  but  still  he  consented,  for  the  same  reward 
to  help  Justice  in  some  other  way  by  which  his  complicity  would  not  be  seen 
by  his  mates.  ,  v  • 

But,  remarking  that  this  proposal  was  not  favorably  received,  he  changed 
tone,  and  in  one  of  bravado,  said  : 

«  Go  ahead  with  your  work.  If  you'll  take  the  trouble,"  added  he,  bragging- 
ly,  "  to  capture  our  baggage,  you'll  find  in  a  valise  that  belongs  to  me  a  dagger 
which  is  still  encrusted  with  the  blood  of  a  Yankee  whom  I  slew.  I  should  not 
wonder  but  that  I  have  settled  twenty  of  you  with  it.  You  can  only  fe 

^It  ma^  easily  b°e°supposVd  that  this  speech  would  be  replied  to  only  as  it  de- 
served.     The  boaster,  without  any  further  ado,  was  slip-noosed  under  a  tree 
the  wagon,  on  which  he  was  made  to  stand,  was  driven  from  unde:      nn,  ai 
so  good  bye  to  another  private  of  Joaquin's  ranks. 


62  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

The  associates  of  Captain  Ellis,  heeding  only  their  rage,  thereupon  proceeded 
with  their  work,  destroying  and  burning  the  huts  and  dens  that  might  serve  as 
lairs  to  the  coyotes. 

The  flames  shot  up  from  peaks  and  cast  a  light  over  the  country  as  a  sort  of 
signal  to  show  how  seriously  the  citizens  of  San  Andreas  had  taken  their  share 
in  the  matter  in  hand. 

Joaquin,  who  was  posted  with  his  confederates  on  a  not  far  distant  hill,  saw 
all  these  proceedings. 

"  My  men  are  leaking  away,  like  mercury  out  of  the  limestone  pores,"  mut 
tered  he.  "  Bah  !  See  the  fires  !  Whew  !  if  they  had  hold  of  us,  I  would  not 
wonder  at  all  at  them  roasting  us  in  the  innocent  brush  they  are  burning  up. 
Poor  Carillo  !  He  hasn't  been  able  to  shuffle  off  the  coil  that  twisted  his  poor 
neck  !  No  doubt,  he's  gone  to  see  his  old  commander  Jurata.  Caramba  !  the 
first  twenty  English,German,  French  or  Statesmen  that  1  meet  shall  follow  him 
to  hell  and  pay  for  my  giving  them  the  passage." 

Convinced  that  Captain  Ellis  and  his  company  indefatigable  as  himself, 
would  be  scouting  all  over  the  country  next  day,  he  withdrew  to  the  mountains, 
his  intention  being  to  gain  as  soon  as  possible  the  spot  appointed  as  the  main 
rallying-place,  to  gather  all  his  men  without  delay  and  to  give  battle  to  any 
moderate  party  of  hunters  who  might  follow  him  too  closely. 

As  they  passed  along  near  the  quartz-crushing  mill  of  the  Phoenix  Company 
a  few  miles  from  the  camp,  several  individuals,  entrenched  in  the  building,  so 
to  say,  poured  a  volley  on  the  Mexicans,  of  whom  they  slightly  wounded  two. 

On  the  instant,  Joaquin  called  a  halt  and  returned  the  fire. 

As  the  assaillants  did  not  show  themselves,  he  made  a  charge  into  the  build 
ing  with  Three-fingered  Jack  and  his  five  or  six  others. 

They  found  inside  only  two  men,  Americans,  who,  with  that  contempt  for 
the  "  greasers"  which  resembles  the  ignorant  scorn,  far  from  as  well-based, 
which  the  John  Bulls,  entertained  in  Waterloo  days'  for  the  Gaul,  valiantly 
showed  an  unflinching  front  to  the  force  thrice  their  number. 

But  in  a  minute,  during  which  ten  or  twelve  revolver  shots  were  made,  they 
were  overpowered. 

Jack  dragged  them  out  into  the  road  and  did  not  cease  plying  his  knife  until 
he  had  shockingly  mutilated  the  corpses.  Meanwhile,  the  leader  and  his  men 
let  off  several  shots  more  into  different  corners  of  the  place,  but,  not  liking  the 
idea  of  either  getting  into  the  loft  or  descending  into  the  cellar,  the  entrances 
of  which  places  one  man  could  defend  against  at  least  the  first  half  dozen,  they 
left,  and  all  pursued  their  route. 

On  the  other  side  of  Bear  Mountain,  at  which  they  arrived-  by  a  road  that 
follows  the  San  Domingo  Creek  chain,  the  Mexicans  came  upon  an  encamp 
ment  of  Chinese,  on  whom  they  levied  to  the  extent  of  six  or  seven  hundred 
dollars,  which  was  all  that  was  owned  by  the  subjects  of  the  Celestial  Empire. 

"  Not  a  very  rich  streak  in  the  lode"  joked  Jack  Three-fingers,  who  could 
not  refrain  from  a  manifestation  of  great  anxiety  on  seeing  the  poor  weak 
wretches. 

So  deeply  did  he  interest  himself  in  removing  them  from  misery  that  he  de 
sired  to  effectually  spare  them  from  further  pangs  of  existence ;  but  Joaquin 
ordered  him  to  ride  on  and  bide  time  till  Americans  should  be  encountered. 

They  crossed  the  river  at  Forman's  Ranch,  and  followed  the  highway  along' 
the  waterside  as  far  as  the  San  Andreas  Road. 

About  a  mile  from  the  town,  they  made  an  elbow  and  ascended  an  eminence' 
not  far  from  Greaserville. 

On  the  way,  two  miners  who  were  traveling  on  foot,  were  riddled  with  bul 
lets  and  handed  over  to  torturer  Jack  in  such  a  state  that  the  miscreant,  to 
satisfy  his  craving  for  blood,  could  merely  cut  their  throats  and  smash  in  their 
faces  with  his  riding-boots. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  63 

While  going  by  a  creek  near  Angel  Camp,  the  marauding  paity  entered  a 
tent  in  which  four  Germans  were  sleeping. 

They  aroused  them  and,  pistol  to  ear,  steel  to  throat,  forced  them  to  give  up 
all  the  money  and  its  equivalent  that  they  had  in  the  world,  that  is  :  a  little 
over  two  hundred  dollars. 

Garcia  let  his  comrades  leave  without  him.  When  they  were  a  few  steps 
off,  he  sprang  upon  the  poor  fellows  and,  with  one  of  his  most  terrific  blasphe 
mies,  swore  that  he  would  cut  their  hearts  out  to  pay  them  for  not  having  more 
money. 

v  The  action  would  have  followed  close  upon  the  words  had  not  Joaquin,  re 
tracing  his  steps,  interposed  and  overcome  his  executioner's  intention  by  saying 
that  he  was  not  going  to  permit  cool  butchery. 

It  will  be  remarked  that  Murieta  displayed  the  temper  of  fits  and  starts  that 
his  blood  is  accustomed  to  evince. 

The  monster  was  compelled  thus  to  give  over  the  pleasure  which  he  had 
hugged  to  himself  in  anticipation ;  he  tried  once  more,  however,  to  give  the 
troop  the  slip  and  turn  back,  but  the  commander  of  the  cutthroats  had  his  eyes 
on  him  and  put  a  second  veto  to  his  motion. 

The  late  recruit,  Floresco,  who  had  been  made  to  stain  his  hands,  had  already 
had  some  words  with  his  superior. 

"  Captain,"  he  had  said,  during  a  halt,  "  I'd  like  a  word  with  you." 

"  Speak  away." 

"  I  bring  back  the  revolver  and  knife  and  the  honor  of  belonging  to  your 
band  which  you  gave  me.  I've  found  out  that  this  bush-fighting  don't  suit  me. 
I'm  too  lazy.  I  think  I'll  see  what  t'other  life  is." 

"  All  right.     You  can  clear,"  remarked  Joaquin  coolly. 

The  young  fellow  was  delighted. 

"  Captain,  you're  a  regular  King  of  Knaves." 

"  So  you  say." 

"  By  the  bye,  about  how  much  does  my  share  amount  to  in  the  common 
bank?" 

"  Well,  you  had  something  like  a  thousand,  I  suppose,  if  the  horses  are  sold." 

"  Well,  well  say  a  thousand,  down." 

"  You  mistake,"  said  Joaquin,  sternly,  "  I  said  you  had  so  much,  when  you 
belonged  to  my  troop " 

"  What !  would  you " 

"  Senor  Floresco,  you  came  to  us  empty-handed,  I  let  you  go  away  the  same, 
charging  nothing  for  your  keep  during  the  meantime,  and  you  will  admit  that 
you  lived  high,  in  expectation  of  dying  higher  yet.  Think  yourself  lucky  that 
I  don't  blow  out  your  brains." 

"  I'd  better  stay  at  the  old  trade,  in  that  case." 

"  I  should  think  so." 

For  a  while,  the  would-be  deserter  had  kept  quiet;  then  he  had  gradually 
broken  out  into  a  strain  of  mutinous  talk  which  had  made  the  captain  watch 
him  attentively.  A  few  days  after  the  last  robbery,  Floresco  had  drawn  rein 
while  the  troop  were  on  the  way,  and  observed  firmly  that  he  was  not  going  to 
ride  any  further  as  he  had  some  particular  business  which  called  him  back  to 
Yacjin. 

"  What  business  T'  inquired  the  chief. 

"  Oh,  only  a  little  private  matter,"  answered  the  other  carelessly. 

"  I  don't  doubt  that,"  returned  the  leader,  "  but  I  cannot  give  you  leave  at  this 
moment.  My  design  is  to  unite  all  the  members  of  my  band  at  the  chief  ral- 
lying-place,  and,  unless  you  give  me  a  good  and  solid  reason,  I  cannot  grant 
you  what  you  solicit." 

"  I  did  not  solicit,  I  demanded,"  rejoined  the  young  bandit  haughtily. 


04  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California); 

"  Your  demand,  Senor  Floresco,  your  demand  is  out  of  place,"  sneered  the 
captain,  over  whose  lips  passed  a  faint  smile  of  scorn. 

"  Any  place  or  time  is  good  enough  for  me,"  said  the  rebel.  "  I  think  this 
the  hour,  and  this  the  place  when  and  where  I  take  my  leave.  You  don't 
seem  to  be  in  the  humor  for  talking  just  now,  so  off  I  go  and  put  off  our  dis 
cussion  till  hereafter." 

At  the  same  time,  with  a  wary  eye  though,  he  began  to  wheel  his  horse, 
when  out  came  Joaquin's  revolver  and  a  command  for  him  to  stop. 

«  Hold  !" 

"  Well,  what  now  f  said  the  bandit,  drawing  bridle. 

"  I  think  you  are  a  traitor,"  returned  the  leader,  furious  at  being  so  cavalier 
ly  treated  before  several  new  members  of  his  force ;  I  don't  doubt  that  you're 
backing  out  to  sell  the  secrets  of  our  comrades." 

"  Oh,  think  what  you  like  !"  answered  the  rebel,  drawing  his  revolver  in  a 
significant  manner  and  meeting  his  master's  eyes  with  a  glance  both  insolent 
and  threatening. 

"  Ha !"  exclaimed  Joaquin,  "by  the  true  and  holy  cross,  you  shall  have  your 
leave,  if  only  for  your  impudence." 

At  almost  the  same  time,  two  shots  rang  out. 

The  captain  had  had  all  the  advantages  given  by  a  forestalling  in  firing,  and 
Floresco,  mortally  hit,  unable  to  keep  foothold  in  the  madrona-wood  stirrups, 
reeled  and  fell  sidewise  off  the  horse. 

The  animal,  on  feeling  the  reins  loosen  and  the  awful  bit's  spike  dropping, 
sprang  away  in  terror  and  relief,  but,  after  a  plunge  or  two,  let  itself  be  over 
taken  and  led  back  by  one  of  the  band. 

"  He's  got  the  discharge  /"  said  Garcia,  laughing  at  his  own  jest. 

All  the  robbers  united  in  highly  blaming  the  folly  and  insubordination  of 
Floresco,  for,  when  the  innocent  do  not  escape  after  their  death  it  is  not  likely 
the  wicked  will  ever  be  unspared,  and  felicitated  their  superior  in  so  summarily 
inflicting  the  lesson. 

"  He  asked  for  time  and  place —  I  gave  him  eternity  and  a  grave,"  observed 
Joaquin. 

Some  two  hours  after  this,  as  a  road  was  being  used  which  buried  itself  deep 
ly  in  the  mountain  gorges,  the  troop  found  itself,  in  presence  of  a  freshly  es 
tablished  camp  of  five  Chinamen. 

Though  they  were  every  one  armed  with  knife  and  Derringer,  they  made  no 
effort  to  use  them,  for  either  attack  or  defence,  but  fell  on  their  knees  for  life. 

But  Floresco's  resistance  had  put  this  Massaroni  of  the  Mines  in  no  sweet 
state  of  mind  and  he  nodded  to  Three-fingered  Jack. 

Without  throwing  away  one  minute,  the  latter  flew  at  the  unfortunate  wretch 
es  and,  with  flaming  eyes  and  gnashing  tooth  like  a  wild  beast,  he  poignarded 
them  successfully. 

While  the  plunderers  of  the  placers  were  thus  carrying  on  their  detestable 
calling  in  the  country,  with  an  activity  that  equalled  their  audacity,  more  than 
once  an  excitement  like  to  "  steamer-day,"  brought  the  people  upon  Montgom 
ery  Street  to  see  "  Joaquin  who  had  been  taken  at  last !" 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  RETIREMENT    OF    THE    RAVAGERS. A    PANTHER    HUNT. THE    LOVERS. AR- 

KANSAW'S    LITTLE    ARMY. 

ON  arriving  at  Arroyo  Cantura,  the  grand  master  of  the  marauders  was 
convinced  that  they  had  not  been  inactive;  several  hundred  horses  galloped 
about  over  the  plain,  careering  in  delight  at  being  at  liberty. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  65 

• 

Instead  of  the  ordinary  rude  camp,  rose  very  pretty  te  its,  clustered  together 
into  quite  a  pretty  village. 

Grouped  around,  the  brigands  were  passing  the  hours  in  playing  cards  or 
dreamily  smoking.  • 

A  little  way  off,  on  a  knoll  well  carpeted  with  sward,  soated  beside  their 
gallants,  seven  or  eight  girls,  their  black  eyes  glittering,  were  smiling,  laughing, 
and  chatting  with  the  greatest  lightness  of  heart. 

As  soon  as  Joaquin  had  entered  the  circle  of  his  followers,  compliments  and 
congratulations  began  to  be  showered  upon  him  from  all  sides. 

At  the  same  time  the  necklace  of  a  woman's  arms  encircled  his  neck  and  the 
beaming  eyes  of  Clarina  welcomed  him.  Her  joy  at  meeting  him  again  pre 
vented  her  from  uttering  a  word. 

After  his  thanks  to  his  confederates,  the  chief  withdrew  with  his  mistress. 
They  sat  down  under  the  trees  at  some  distance. 

"  Joaquin,"  murmured  the  girl,  as  her  magnificent  tresses  were  tossed  back 
from  her  shoulders  and  bosom,  "  you've  been  so  long  away  that  I  could  not 
help  feeling  sad,  and  fearing  the  worst.  And  lonely  as  I  have  been,  it  was 
dreadful  to  be  thinking,  thinking,  grieving  all  the  while." 

"  Lonely,  Clarina  ?  how's  that,  when  here's  half  a  dozen  gay  ones  about  you." 

"  Alas  !  it  was  their  very  mirth  that  made  me  more  sorrowful." 

"  Indeed !  explain  yourself !  I  must  know  the  cause  of  your  moodiness. 
Weeping  ?  Is  the  thing  so  serious  as  all  this  1" 

"  I  am  weeping,"  said  she,  hiding  her  face.  "  I  cannot,  cannot  help  my  tears 
flowing — my  heart  is  ready  to  break.  Do  you  remember  your  promise  1  Oh. 
when  will  you  give  up  this  dangerous  and  detestable  mode  of  life  to  return  to 
our  dear,  beautiful  land  ?" 

"  Our  land  ?  Oh,  would  to  heaven  that  I  had  never  left  it,  I  would  not  be 
at  this  moment  what  I  am  !  But,  have  courage,  Clarina.  A  few  months  more, 
and  we  will  see  again  the  days  of  our  youth.  These  hours  of  darkness  will 
float  all  away." 

A  shadow  lingered  on  the  girl's  face  at  remembrance  of  the  peaceful  past, 
but  as  with  her  truly  womanly  nature,  she  loved  Murieta  in  spite  of  all  his 
crimes,  she  brightened  when  she  gazed  into  those  eyes  which  had  never  lowered 
before  any  man's,  and  met  her's  now  hopefully. 

She  found  excuse  for  him  in  the  treatment  which  he  had  unjustly  met,  treat 
ment  as  bitter  as  the  waters  of  Laguna  Sal. 

She  knew  most  intimately  the  story  of  his  mind,  its  sufferings,  its  yielding 
to  passions  and  the  long  course  of  villainy  which  had  followed  the  loss  of  its 
former  purity. 

He  had  declared  to  her  that  he  would  put  an  end  to  his  career  as  soon  as  his 
vengeance  should  be  glutted  and  he  should  have  obtained  money  equal  to  what 
he  estimated  his  losses  to  be. 

Then,  he  added,  he  would  retire  into  Sonora,  where  he  would  live  in  the 
woods  with  her. 

She  listened  to  his  project  with  the  utmost  confidence,  for  he  was  sincere  in 
his  intentions,  and  he  cared  little  for  whatever  the  world  might  think  of  him, 
regarding  him  herself,  as  was  natural,  as  the  handsomest,  noblest  and  mo^t 
generous  of  men. 

She  was  not  wise  enough  to  have  remarked  that  the  greatest  criminals  have 
always  foiled  their  aims  by  never  knowing  when  to  leave  off. 
I     "  Are  we  now  near  to  happiness  ?"  she  asked  in  her  sweetest  voice. 

"  Yes,  my  love.     My  vengeance  is  all  but  satisfied,  and  my  fortune  will  be 
complete  when  I  shall  have  added  a  few  more  thousands  to  it." 
i     As  he  finished  these  words,  illustrative  of  the  pitcher  going  too  often  to  the 
well,  he  was  disturbed  by  one  of  his  men  coming  up  at  a  gallop  to  seek  him. 


66  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

• 

What  he  had  to  say  will  be  repeated  after  a  few  events  previously  occurring 
are  related. 

One  of  the  bandits,  while  hunting,  had  come  upon  the  track  of  a  panther, 
quite  fresh,  and  he  brought  the  news  to  camp. 

The  rest  determined  to  have  some  excitement  and  they  entered  the  woods. 
For  a  quarter  or  half  an  hour,  the  bushes  were  beaten  fruitlessly. 

Then,  a  pistol  shot  was  heard,  and  all  ran  in  towards  the  point,  greatly  con 
tracting  the  circle. 

The  lithe  beast  had  tried  to  steal  past  Guerro  and  Antonio,  one  of  whom 
had  repulsed  him  with  a  snap  shot,  which  missed  him  however. 

The  whole  ring  closed,  amid  shouting,  and  the  poor  animal,  more  frightened 
than  ferocious,  did  not  know  which  way  to  turn. 

He  made  a  couple  of  rushes  but  did  not  dare  to  receive  a  volley. 
At  last,  the  continual  popping  of  fire-arms  made  it  desperate  and  it  was  seen 
every  now  and  then  leaping  up  and  down  in  the  brush. 

So  small  was  the  circle  of  hunters  now  that  they  were  nearly  in  double  ranks. 
The  critical  moment  came. 

Creeping  forward,  belly  to  ground,  and  the  grass  hiding  it  somewhat,  the 
long,  slender  body  approached  one  part  of  the  human  enclosure. 

A  spring  placed  it  on  a  low-lying  oak  bough,  from  which  a  second  leap  took 
>t  straight  at  the  heads  of  Garcia  and  three  of  his  neighbors,  who  stooped  or 
Jirew  themselves  to  one  side  or  the  other. 

Jack,  while  falling  on  his  knees,  fired  two  barrels  of  his  revolver  at  the 
smooth-skinned  form  cleaving  the  air  above  and  by  him,  and  when  the  brute 
touched  the  ground,  it  tumbled  over  a  bush  upon  its  nose  in  a  confused  manner 
that  told  of  the  balls  having  entered  its  body.  It  sought  to  fly,  having  had 
enough  of  fighting,  but  a  general  discharge  riddled  it  from  tip  of  tail  to  ear, 
arid  it  rolled  over  in  the  wild  clover,  making  the  dust  fly  in  its  agony.  With 
out  waiting  to  bid  his  companions  stop,  Jack  jumped  upon  the  body  and,  avoid 
ing  the  claws  more  by  good  fortune  than  from  any  prudence,  drove  his  knife 
through  nerve  and  bone  into  one  of  the  glazing  eyes.  He  took  good  care  to 
jump  back  at  the  moment. 

The  tortured  beast,  as  if  galvanized,  bent  nearly  double,  gave  a  dreadful 
"  lashing  out "  like  a  vicious  horse  with  the  powerful  hind  feet,  and,  gnashing 
its  teeth,  rolled  over  and  over  like  a  cat  in  a  fit. 

At  last,  the  paroxysm  died  away,  and  the  carcase  lay  motionless,  with  stiff 
ening  limbs  and  exposed  teeth. 

"  The  skin  is  almost  too  much  riddled  to  be  of  any  good,"  remarked  Valen- 
zuela,  as  he  saw  Garcia  plying  his  knife  in  flaying  the  warm  body. 

a  I  only  want  some  strips  of  skin —  hello !"  exclaimed  Jack  interrupting  him 
self,  and  suddenly  quitting  his  stripping  off  the  hide  to  dig  into  the  belly  with 
his  blade.  "  Boys,  scatter  and  find  a  fresh  trail — here's  half  a  ramrod  of  a  gun, 
and  none  of  us  carried  any." 

"  None,"  said  Garcia,  "  but  are  you  sure  it  ain't  an  old  wound  ?" 
"  Why,  nothing  could  live  long  with  so  much  in  them — four  inches  of  hickory 
and  an  iron  top,"  said  Jack,  holding  up  the  unusual  projectile.     "  No  wonder 
the  panther  fought  shv  of  us.     She  was  only  recovering  from  a  hurt." 
"  Yes,  yes,  I  see." 

They  let  the  chase  of  animals  go  for  that  of  the  suspected  man  or  men. 
At  length,  about  a  mile  from  Cantura  Creek,  one  of  the  out-lying  scouts  struck 
a  quite  fresh  trail,  made  by  no  less  than  twelve  or  fifteen  men. 
This  was  the  intelligence  which  had  been  brought  to  the  leader. 
It  was  important  to  give  no  stranger  time  to  leave  the  valley  after  having 
been  so  near  to  the  bandits'  den  as  to  have  divined  their  proximity,  else  they 
must  have  been  blind  fellows  not  to  be  supposed  to  have  taken  to  desert  life. 
Such  an  event  as  the  secret  being  spread  was  defeat  to  the  Mexican  chief's 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  67 

pi.»iifi>,    tt  the  same  time  as  compelling  him  to  change  the  head-quarters  of  his 


sing  without  delay  one  of  his  best  mounts,  Joaquin  started  off,  accom 
panied  oy  twenty  selected  bravoes,  foremost  among  whom  were  his  usual  right- 
hand  men  Three-fingered  Jack  and  Valenzuela,  the  no  less  brave  and  faithful 
Guerra,  Antonio  and  Fernando. 

This  detachment  followed  the  discovered  track  at  a  "  pressing  pace,"  as  the 
language  of  the  turf  goes,  for  a  couple  of  hours,  when  there  suddenly  appeared 
before  them  eight  or  nine  Americans,  who  were  holding  in  their  horses,  waiting 
carelessly  for  them  to  come  on. 

They  hesitated  for  an  instant,  slackened  their  pace  and  halted  at  a  dozen 
yards'  distance. 

Joaquin  nad  remarked  that  one  of  the  strangers  was  that  miner  who  had  tried 
to  arrest  him  in  a  gambling  saloon  of  Sonora. 

"  What  brings  you  into  this  valley  1"  challenged  the  captain  of  banditti,  push 
ing  on  for  a  horse's  length  further  to  better  see  that  man's  features  and  make 
sure  of  his  belief. 

The  leader  of  the  party  hesitated. 

Now  Arkansaw  (as  the  man  was  nick-named,  who  had  failed  to  take  Joaquin) 
had  been  so  tormented  by  the  rough  jokers  for  his  miss,  that  he  had  made  up 
his  mind  that  he  would  endeavor  once  more  to  make  his  word  true. 

He  found  a  difficulty  in  getting  as  many  men  as  he  required,  and,  with  one 
or  two  friends  who  did  stand  by  him,  he  joined  a  company  of  twelve  formed  by 
the  present  leader,  a  New  Englander  whose  speculative  turn  had  seen  a  fair 
chance  in  the  high  rewards  out  for  the  Mexican  brigand,  and  off  they  had  gone. 

He  had  formed  the  idea  that  the  chief  was  a  dare-devil  enough,  but  that  his 
supporters  were  a  cowardly  crew  of  cutthroats,  who  were  nothing  except  he  in 
spired  them. 

But  the  sudden  appearance  of  Joaquin  at  the  head  of  a  score  of  men  well- 
equipped,  well-mounted  and  armed,  all  ugly-looking  desperadoes,  threw  the 
speculator  on  banditti  stock  all  aback,  and  he,  though  brave  enough,  too,  would 
have  liked  to  have  steered  one  way  or  another  or  gone  about  altogether  with 
every  stitch  of  sail  out  alow,  aloft  and  on  studding-sail-booms,  at  the  bold  chal 
lenge. 

He  had  such  a  vein  of  circumspection  within  him,  that  he  felt  sure  nothing 
was  to  be  gained  by  fighting  unless  a  bullet  or  a  knife-blade  is  a  benefit. 

So  he  kept  silent. 

Joaquin  grew  more  and  more  impatient,  and  cried  in  a  tone  no  sweeter  than 
his  former  speech  was  couched  in  : 

"  Did  you  hear  me,  or  must  I  explain  myself  more  clearly  ?" 

"  Oh,  I  heard,"  answered  the  Yankee,  as  he  took  a  quarter  of  a  fresh  plug  as 
a  chew,  and  glanced  around  on  his  associates  as  if  to  ask  them  what  should  be 
done. 

"  Then,  what  do  you  say  ?  Quick  1  Who  are  you,  and  what  in  the  name  of 
hoof  and  horns  fetches  you  into  this  valley  ?" 

"  Hold  on,  stranger,  no  hurry,"  replied  the  other,  who  had  "  calculated"  on 
his  best  course.  "  Give  a  man  time  to  turn  over  what  you  say.  You  don't 
seem  to  be  half-civilized  by  the  way  you  hurry  up  the  cakes.  Let  the  water  fill 
the  sluice,  can't  you  ?  To  say  something,  though,  and  give  you  a  lesson  in 
politeness,  our  presence  in  this  district  of  which  you  seem  to  be  the  selectmen, 
is  because  we  are  a  band  of  hunters  after  game.  If  you  don't  want  to  pick  a 
muss,  we  won't  disturb  you  !  There  !  what  do  -  -" 

At  these  words,  which  the  hardy  members  of  this  prudent  general's  arrr-j 
heard  in  disgust,  surprise  and  scorn  appeared  on  their  bronzed  phizes. 

Several  dull  growls  had  already  been  audible,  like  the  warning  voices  around 
Cape  Mendocino. 


.03  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

With  a  curse,  Arkansaw  put  his  horse  in  advance  of  the  speaker's  • 

"  Boys,  I'm  cap.,  now,  eh1?" 

"  You,  yes  !  sail  in  !     To  h—  with  him  /" 

"  I'm  sure  I  know  you  !"  cried  Arkansaw,  charging  Joaquin.    "  You 

Crack — ack — ack !  went  the  Mexicans'  pistols  to  cover  their  chief. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE   HAND-TO-HAND    TUSSLE. ARKANSAW    AND     THREE-FINGERS. ESCAPE    OF     THK 

AMERICAN. THE    ARROYO    DESERTED. 

RANG — blang,  blang  !  went  the  reply  fire,  while  a  chorus  of  hostile  cries  rent 
the  smoke. 

Joaquin's  first  barrel  sent  its  missile  close  to  the  on-coming  Arkansaw,  but 
it  slew,  not  him,  but  the  Yankee  whose  place  the  bolder  man  had  assumed. 

The  chief  received  a  wound  on  the  left  shoulder,  which  a  side-turn  in  his 
saddle  had  only  kept  from  his  throat. 

All  were  mingled  in  a  general  confusion.  Five  of  Joaquin's  men  had  lost 
their  seats  never  to  move  again,  two  of  the  opponents,  beside  the  speculative, 
deposed  leader,  had  fallen  under  the  combatants'  feet -like  them,  but  all  the 
wounded  were  fighting  on. 

The  Americans,  who  suffered  the  most  from  pistol-shots,  did  all  they  could  to 
close  in,  and  butt-ends  of  firearms  and  knives  were  principally  employed. 

Through  the  medley  of  oaths,  groans,  shouts  and  detonations,  were  to  be 
heard  the  voices  of  the  leaders,  encouraging  and  urging  them  on,  while  fighting 
themselves  most  vigorously,  the  Mexican  like  a  puma,  the  other  like  a  grizzly. 

Wounded  and  bleeding,  but  as  brave  and  bold  as  ever,  Murieta  ran  his  horse 
hither  and  thither  through  the  tangled  mass,  and  showed  himself  everywhere  at 
the  points  where  the  result  was  wavering,  deciding  victory  often  by  his  simple 
coming. 

The  attacking  party  fought  a  little  despairingly  now.  For  a  moment,  they 
had  held  the  advantage  over  their  antagonists,  and  they  would  have  kept  it, 
only  for  the  unseen  devil  that  seemed  to  continually  attend  the  bandit  chief, 
and  overcome  the  foeman's  courage  and  vigor. 

After  having  emptied  his  revolver  on  the  enemy,  Three-fingered  Jack  had 
flung  the  weapon  into  the  nearest  face,  and  with  his  usual  ferocity,  had  begun 
plunging  about  with  his  poignard  right  and  left,  and  before  him,  so  blindly  that 
at  times  he  had  wounded  his  own  comrades  and  their  horses. 

When  Joaquin,  after  having  unhorsed  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  as 
sailants,  could  survey  the  scene  of  action  more  calmly,  he  saw  that  nine  of  his 
men  were  doubtlessly  the  same  number  of  trodden  corpses  that  strewed  the 
ground.  All  the  others  except  one  were  sleeping  in  death  beside  them. 

The  sole  survivor,  of  whom  we  speak,  was  the  robust  giant  Arkansaw,  who 
was  stoutly  giving  Three-fingered  Jack  all  he  wanted,  each  with  a  knife  in  hand. 

The  first,  no  doubt  having  had  great  experience  in  the  steel,  was  indeed, 
raining  more  stabs  and  cuts  than  he  had  to  parry,  which  contributed  not  a  little 
towards  augmenting  the  rage  of  Garcia. 

Joaquin  and  the  rest  of  the  band,  except  such  as  had  wounds  to  staunch,  glad 
of  a  rest  and  a  treat  at  the  same  time,  sat  their  horses, 'tranquil  spectators  of 
the  struggle,  confident  as  they  were  of  the  issue  from  their  knowledge  of  their 
comrade's  powers  and  address. 

Now  reining  in,  now  letting  slip,  now  wheeling,  then  lifting  their  foam-flecked 
horses,  whose  iaws  ran  blood  and  their  neck  and  fore-shoulders  as  well  from 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  69 

mis -directed  blows,  the  two  champions  crashed  their  blades  triflingly,  so  to  say 
waiting  to  deal  the  mortal,  finishing  stroke. 

"  You  jes'  give  fair  play  a  leettle  longer,"  muttered  Arkansaw,     that  s  all 

Jack  swore  all  the  time,  and  roared  a  tremendous  execration  at  length  when 
he  fancied  that  he  had  got  the  opening  that  he  so  much  desired. 

He  gave  a  short,  quick  thrust,  as  if  he  had  held  a  sword,  drew  back,  changed 
his  grasp  on  the  bloody  handle  and  delivered  a  dreadful  downward  darting  of 
his  knife  which,  splendidly  warded  off  by  the  bowie,  which  made  the  thinner 
stiletto  bend,  ripped  up  the  thigh  of  Arkansaw. 

On  this  cruel  wound,  and  feeling  that  indescribable  sensation  of  hot  blood 
scalding  the  gash  it  boils  through,  the  latter  so  dextrously  glided  his  arm 
under  the  other's  that  the  broad  blade,  prevented  from  penetrating  the  eye  by 
a  miracle,  laid  bare  the  top  of  the  Mexican's  cheek-bone  and  left  a  clean  cuf 
from  there  down  the  cheek  to  the  very  edge  of  the  lower  jaw-bone;  had  the 
mouth  been  open,  the  cheek  would  have  been  perforated. 

Garcia,  whose  set  teeth  ground  in  agony  at  the  awful  pain  when  the  bone 
was  scraped,  all  but  yelled,  and  swayed  in  the  saddle.  His  horse  fell  back, 
just  as  Arkansaw  made  a  second  sweeping  stroke. 

The  Mexicans,  alarmed,  hastened  to  the  succor  of  their  comrade,  but  he,  re- 
coverino-  himself,  forced  them  to  stand  off  with  horrid  imprecations.  They 
obeyed&but  it  was  plainly  to  be  seen  that  they  were  eager  to  finish  the  Ameri 
can,  if  he  continued  to  conquer. 

Arkansaw  felt  deafly  that,  do  his  utmost,  yet  he  could  gam  nothing  by  con 
tinuing  to  fight,  so— only  waiting  to  catch  one  of  Jack's  stabs  on  his  left  arm, 
and  to  make  a  return— he  lifted  his  horse  round  on  its  hind  legs  and  pricked 
him  on  into  a  flight  swift  as  lightning.  His  savage  antagonist,  as  well  as  Jo*, 
quin,  followed  him  at  a  distance. 

For  five  miles,  the  chase,  went  on,  Joaquin  remaining  a  little  behind  (jrarcia, 
who  nearly  touched  the  fugitive  every  time  he  made  a  "  burst."  Thus  forcing 
the  pace,  he  often  got  so  near  that  he  lifted  his  dagger,  but  at  that  instant,  the 
American  would  compel  his  steed  to  make  a  "  spurt,"  and  down  would  drop 
the  steel  powerless.  Jack  swore  continually  and  louder  and  loudly  as  he  felt 
his  mount  failing  him. 

The  chief,  who  had  taken  much  out  of  his  charger  by  his  plunging  about  the 
battle-field,  was  dropped  behind  considerably,  and,  when  he  had  been  within 
pistol-range,  Three-fingered  Jack's  motions  in  the  saddle  had  prevented  him 
risking  a  shot.  Jack  had  no  fire-arms.  . 

Arkansaw  showed  himself  to  be  a  consummate  rough-rider,  and  he  had  that 
art,  little  cultivated,  of  conversing  with  his  horse  as  though  he  were  a  man.  He 
would  tell  him  of  the  impediments  in  the  way,  of  the  nature  of  the  ground,  of 
the  state  of  the  pursuing  party,  promise  him  food  in  profusion,  laugh  to  him, 
chide  him,  pat  him,  smooth  his  mane,  and  whisper  hopeful  words  in  his  turned- 
back  ears,  to  which  he  was  bowed  forward.  Whether  it  affected  the  animal  or 
not,  it  at  least  pleases  the  rider. 

"  Good  old  nag,"  said  Arkansaw,  at  length,  after  a  glance  over  his  shoulder, 
"  they're  no  where,  my  boy  1" 

He  laughed,  and  the  horse  stretched  out  in  a  greyhound  s  leap,  as  it  new 
powers  had  been  given  him. 

In  fact,  convinced  that,  from  some  cause  or  other,  the  fugitive  was  getting 

r  more  out  of  his  horse  than  they  out  of  theirs,  which  might  be  foundered  if  the 

chase  was  prolonged,  Joaquin  called  off  his  hound,  and  the  two  baffled  bandits 

walked  their  horses  back  to  their  confederates.     The  wounded  were  still  there, 

under  care  of  some  of  their  comrades,  who  understood  a  little  of  the  healing 

Fernando  Fontes  and  another  had  received  such  wounds  that  they  lingered 
on  only  till  the  morrow,  their  deaths  bringing  the  whole  loss  to  eleven. 


TO  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California); 

The  chief  though  he  was  not  hurt  in  a  very  serious  manner,  had  lost  much 
blood,  and  he  was  obliged  to  keep  quiet  for  several  days,  and  receive  such 
attentions  a»  were  lavished  upon  him  by  the  loving  Clarina. 

Antoniu  and  Guerra,  no  less  lucky  than  their  commander,  found  in  the  ten 
der  solicitude  of  their  inamoratas  relief  to  their  sufferings ;  hence,  these  three 
were  set  a-field  anew  at  the  time  when  their  less-favored  companions  were  just 
coining  round. 

Muricta  could  not  help  feeling  some  uneasiness  at  the  recollection  of  the 
iturdy  survivor  of  the  American  party. 

He  reproached  himself  for  ever  having  given  him  the  chance  to  make  off, 
when  a  dozen  bullets  might  have  been  bestowed  upon  him  during  his  conflict 
with  Three-fingered  Jack. 

A  fortnight  had  already  elapsed  since  the  bloody  skirmish  and,  if  the  escaped 
man  had  not  died  of  his  wounds  there  was  everything  to  lead  one  to  believe 
that  he  would  raise  a  body  of  adventurers,  there  being  many  hangers-on  about 
the  diggings  who  would  ask  nothing  better  than  such  "  sport." 

At  all  events,  the  story  he  had  to  tell  would  have  &s  effect  on  the  various 
bands  resting  on  their  arms,  which  were  ready  to  rise  against  the  ravagers  at 
the  first  report  of  his  whereabouts. 

Arkansaw  would  probably  offer  himself  as  guide  to  such. 
In  the  dread  of  such  an  event,  Joaquin  resolved  to  abandon  for  the  present 
at  least  the  asylum  on  which  he  had  set  his  choice. 

By  this  means,  he  thought  to  deceive  the  seekers,  who,  on  arriving  and  find 
ing  the  valley  untenanted,  would  imagine  that  the  banditti  had  retired  into 
Mexico,  or  else  they  would  divide  into  smaller  detachments  in  their  scouting, 
when,  each  of  them  might  be  attracted  into  defiles  and  passes  in  the  mountains 
and  there  destroyed,  at  the  cost,  to  his  hidden,  securely-posted  men,  of  scarcely 
one. 

In  this  design  everything  was  got  ready  for  the  departure. 
The  horses,  which  amounted  to  several  hundreds,  were  formed  into  manage 
able  droves  and  started  for  Mexico  under  guard  of  four  of  the  best  vaqueroes 
of  the  band.     The  tents  were  taken  down  and  packed  upon  the  mules,  as  well 
as  everything  around  the  camping-ground  which  could  be  of  any  use. 

The  women  attired  themselves  in  their  masculine  traveling-habits  and  pre 
pared  bravely  and  gaily  to  cross  highlands  and  low,  dark  gorges  and  sunlit 
peaks ;  there  were  not  only  privations  and  fatigues  to  be  resisted,  but,  at  any 
moment,  from  the  craggy  wall  at  whose  foot  they  trailed  along,  might  spring 
out  or  rofl  down  the  treacherous  American  lion  or  the  grizzly  bear. 

Those  of  the  wounded  in  that  late  encounter  where  the  fallen  Americans  had 
sold  their  lives  dearly,  who  had  not  yet  been  restored  to  strength,  were  placed 
on  the  easiest  goers  in  the  cavalcade,  which  had  been  previously  used  by  the 
women. 

The  patient  being  seated  on  comfortable  Mexican  saddles,  as  large  almost  as 
an  elephant's  howdah,  were  for  the  more  precaution,  attached  to  them  by  straps, 
and  had  a  free  rider  leading  them. 

Thus,  the  robbers  streamed  out  of  the  valley,  a  long  line  of  a  hundred  and 
six  men  and  nine  females. 

It  was  not  without  regret  that  farewell  was  said  to  the  magnificent  retreat,  so 
wild  and  desolate-looking  of  a  sudden,  which  had  lately  been  witness  of  their 
rejoicings,  pleasures  and  repose. 

At  the  head  of  the  column,  rode  Joaquin,  surrounded,  like  a  Napoleon  of 
marauders,  by  his  marshals,  by  his  lieutenants. 

His  handsome  features  wore  an  expression  of  sadness  and  gravity,  as  lie  ex 
plained  to  his  companions  the  reasons  which  had  led  him  to  quit  Arroyo  Can 
tava,  a  kind  of  another  unconsumed  Moscow. 


Or,    The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  71 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE      JOURNEY. THE      NEW     HEAD-QUARTERS. THE      PLAN. REPULSED      AT     THE 

RANCH. 

THE  journey  did  not  suffice  to  distract  the  captain  of  banditti  from  his  con 
stant  reveries.  The  -memory  of  his  last  affair  with  the  party  of  self-appointed 
police,  still  tortured  his  mind ;  though  it  had  been  almost  completely  de 
feated,  nevertheless  he  had  paid  very  dear  for  an  unconsiderable  victory,  an<i 
was  compelled  to  acknowledge  the  powerlessness  of  his  men  at  close-quarters 
with  the  brave  by  intelligence  men  of  the  superior  race. 

He  regretted  that  the  whole  of  his  troop  was  not  composed  of  individuals  as 
active  and  fearless  as  Three-fingered  Jack,  Valenzuela,  Antonio  and  Guerra. 

Enraged  at  having  let  Arkansaw  escape,  he  was  compelled  to  admit  as  well 
that  the  redoubtable  Garcia  was  neither  invulnerable  nor  successful  all  the  time 
and  that  he  was  no  longer  the  Inconquerable  of  other  days. 

He  was  the  strongest,  the  cruelest,  the  most  cunning  and  resolute  of  all  his 
cutthroats  ;  he  had  been  whilom  the  favorite,  the  right  hand  man  of  Jurata  the 
famous  guerrilla ;  moreover,  he  was  wonderfully  assisted  by  a  long  experience, 
carrying  on  his  body  scars  of  many  wounds  received  in  numberless  actions. 

If  this  champion  had  come  off  only  second-best  in  a  fight  with  Arkansaw,  no 
wonderful  man,  would  the  rest  of  the  gang  be  well  off  when  pitted  against 
fellows  of  that  stripe.  It  was  not  probable. 

Joaquin  was  sure  that  his  interest  enforced  his  avoiding  any  heavy  contest 
with  the  followers  of  justice,  regulars  or  irregulars. 

A  combat  of  this  nature,  even  admitting  the  result  to  be  fortunate  to  him, 
would  deprive  him  of  a  number  of  his  foremost  men,  not  to  be  replaced  without 
time  and  difficulty,  which  would  be  a  serious  obstacle  to  the  carrying  out  of 
projects  which  he  had  formed  at  the  setting  out  on  his  marauding  career. 

These  reflections,  and  many  others  springing  from  them,  greatly  clouded 
Murieta's  brow ;  for  the  first  time  he  experienced  a  sharp  and  weighty  desire 
of  flinging  to  the  winds  and  waters  the  guilty  existence  which  he  had  hitherto 
led,  to  withdraw  into  his  native  country  with  his  well-loved  Clarina. 

The  latter,  meanwhile  traveling  in  the  rear  of  the  main  body,  surrounded  by 
the  associates  of  her  own  sex  who  were  not  at  all  affected  by  any  forebodings, 
was  yielding  to  impressions  quite  the  opposite  to  those  which  swayed  her 
lover ;  she  was  as  merry  and  laughing  as  could  well  be. 

She  was  amusing  herself  perforce  and  vying  with  her  companions  in  a  kind 
of  pastime  in  which  the  victor  was  the  one  who  was  most  mirthful. 

The  countless  echoes  which  were  bandied  back  from  either  enclosing  line  of 
rocky  steeps,  repeated  their  songs  and  peals  of  merriment,  until  it  might  have 
been  believed  that  it  was  a  virgin  forest  of  the  tropics  full  of  bright  birds  with 
melodious  throat. 

After  having  traversed  the  rich  hollows  which  extend  northward  of  Tulare 
Lake,  the  Mexicans  crossed  the  San  Joaquin  River  some  twelve  miles  from 
Fort  Miller,  and  pushed  on  towards  the  north-east  as  far  as  the  foils  of  the 
Yohamite. 

Thence,  passing  the  stream  again,  they  worked  toilsomely  up  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  then  down  into  the  pleasant,  the  delightful,  the  tempting  valleys  on. 
the  other  side  and  at  length  reached  the  mountains  on  the  east  of  Lake  Mono. 

In  their  gullies,  clefts  and  passes,  the  outlaw,  at  the  commencement  of  his 
adventures,  had  found  shelter  from  some  volunteer  constables  who  had  chased 
him  and  his  then  insignificant  allies  from  Hangtown  to  Castle  Peak,  not  far 
from  the  Sonora  Pass.  Since  then  he  had  always  looked  upon  tins  spot  as  the 
best  and  surest  hiding-place  in  the  whole  State. 


72  Joaquiti,  (the    Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

The  chief  took  the  lead  through  a  narrow  path  which  would  have  been  past 
suspicion  so  completely  had  nature  taken  pains  to  dissimulate  it  by  means  of 
precipitous  rocks  and  super-abundance  of  vegetation,  and  when  they  had  entered 
by  it,  they  Were  in  as  retired  and  picturesque  a  site  as  they  could  have  fancied. 
It  is  a  mere  cleft  in  the  heights  about  five-andrtwenty  miles  to  the  south-east  of 
Lake  Mono,  between  two  rugged  walls,  crested  by  masses  of  stone  and  earth 
toppling  over  as  if  to  fall. 

If  these  sides  of  the  narrow  way  were  climbed,  the  country  could  be  surveyed 
for  miles  around.  In  this  wild  place,  near  a  region  well  stocked,  if  the  term 
will  pass,  with  red,  gray  and  desert  foxes,  coyotes,  wolves,  and  grizzlies,  the 
robbers  pitched  their  tents. 

The  shades  of  evening  were  already  stealing  over  the  sky  and  earth,  all 
around  'seemed  to  invite  to  repose  the  adventurers,  who  were  temporarily  cut 
of  the  reach  of  their  sea  of  troubles. 

On  the  perfumed  sward  of  mingled  grass  and  moss,  in  their  ample  blankets, 
they  slumbered  until  morning,  with  not  one  guard  a-foot,  they  sleep  no  less 
peaceful  and  deep  than  that  of  men  whose  hands  had  never  been  imbrued  in 
blood,  whose  hearts  had  never  been  darkened  by  even  the  idea  of  a  criminal 
desire  ! 

But  it  was  the  wearisome  journey  which  fear  of  merited  judgment  had  im 
pelled  that  had  alone  given  them  this  short  stay  of  punishment. 

The  most  hardened  feel  pangs  of  which  an  honest  man  never  can  dream  of, 
far  beyond  any  of  his  earthly  inflictions. 

On  the  morrow,  the  outlaw  assembled  all  about  him  and  laid  out  before 
them  his  plans  and  ideas  as  to  the  future. 

"  You  know,"  he  began,  "  that  we  count  one  hundred  in  active  service.  Our 
spies,  friends  and  associates,  scattered  all  over  in  almost  all  the  towns  and 
camps  of  the  state,  are  nearly  four  hundred.  These  allies  can  only  aid  us  ver 
bally,  I  mean  by  information  which  they  procure  for  us ;  they  cannot  lend  us 
any  open  assistance  for  reasons  which  it  is  useless  to  explain  to  you  just  now. 
I  hold  in  secure  places  considerable  sums,  and  my  intention  is  to  raise  from 
Sonora  and  Lower  California  a  certain  number  of  recruits  who  will  bring  our 
forces  in  the  field  to  three  hundred. 

"  I  will  equip  and  arm  these  new  hands  and  will  begin  a  sweeping  business 
in  the  southern  counties.  I  will  destroy  the  Yankees  by  wholesale,  burn  their 
farms,  overrun  their  property,  and  do  it  all  so  rapidly  that  they  shall  not  have 
time  to  collect  troops  and  organize  resistance.  By  the  time  they  are  sufficient 
ly  powerful  to  fetter  my  further  movements,  I  will  have  finished  my  task  and 
sought  shelter  in  some  of  the  Sonorian  sierras.  When  theft,  I  will  give  good 
bye  to  the  life  of  roving  and  adventures  which  we  have  led  together  up  till  now. 
In  this  way,  friends,  will  we  have  taken  vengeance  for  the  evil  done  to  us  and 
some  overplus  for  the  \vrongs  which  the  Yankees,  during  the  last  war,  wreaked 
upon  our  unfortunate  country.  We  will  do  our  share  towards  wiping  out  the 
cursed  race,  just  as  they  have  destroyed  the  buckeye-nut  eaters.  We  will 
divide  the  spoil  of  the  expeditions,  and  let  the  rest  of  our  days  roll  on  in 
peace." 

"  Long  life  to  the  noble  captain  !"  cried  every  man  long  and  loudly. 

Enthusiasm  kindled  every  eye. 

The  splendid  picture  which  had  been  enrolled  before  them  was  so  dazzling, 
the  design  displayed  so  unexpected,  that  the  bandits  couid  scarcely  contain 
their  joy. 

Although  they  had  always  loved  and  admired  their  superior  throughout  all 
the  phases  of  his  dangerous  existence,  none  of  them  had  given  him  credit  for 
what  they  esteemed  as  genius  discovered  in  his  projects. 

His  speech  electrified  them  with  fresh  energy  and  more  than  ever  were  they 
eager  to  follow  arid  obey  him,  com-:  \\h,.t  n  I;;';/. 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  73 

That  same  aay,  Joaquin  told  off  eight  companies  of  ten  men  each  towards 
different  parts  of  the  state,  to  the  east,  south  and  north,  with  the  express  order 
to  procure  money  and  horses  with  all  their  might  and  main. 

He  himself  remained  at  the  rendezvous  with  twenty-five,  whose  only  occu 
pation  was  the  killing  of  game,  and  watching  over  the  horses  and  weapons. 
Few  days  passed  since  the  departure  of  the  little  divisions  in  which  interval,  the 
wounded  had  recovered. 

Joaquin,  seeing  all  he  had  in  an  efficient  state,  took  with  him  Valenzuela  and 
Three- fingered  Jack  and  a  select  party,  and  went  off  on  a  scout  and  for  any 
enterprise  that  offered. 

Antonio,  Guerro  and  the  remainder  were  to  protect  the  camp  and  the  w omen 
from  the  roamings  of  the  wild  beasts  which  had  not  quitted  the  neighborhood 
despite  the  successive  hunts  which  had  been  made  upon  them  and  the  unpleas 
ant  acquaintance  many  of  them  had  made  with  the  firearms  and  steel  of  the 
band. 

On  arriving  at  Fiddletown,  Joaquin  met  the  captain  of  one  of  the  troops,  who 
had  a  bag  of  gold  coin  to  give  him  and  a  bit  of  news  which  gave  the  direction 

to  the  leader's  move. 

******* 

Darkness  had  stolen  upon  Jackson,  but  not  so  deeply  as  to  prevent  a  dim 
pleasantly  vague  view  of  the  town  and  its  surroundings. 

A  ranch,  which  an  American  named  Fairgrove  had  purchased  years  before 
and  since  enlarged  into  a  double  house  of  twro  stories  in  height,occupied  by  him, 
his  wife  and  a  widowed  sister  and  two  of  her  children,  (a  girl,  with  whom  we 
have  little  to  do,  and  a  boy  of  fourteen),  sat  upon  the  side  of  a  gentle  acclivity 
about  a  mile  from  the  town,  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  road. 

Down  to  the  road,  from  the  front  of  the  house,  the  ground  was  almost  all 
wooded  ;  behind  and  in  the  valley  it  was  under  cultivation,  and  the  products 
brought  "  gold"  prices  from  the  mining  population. 

Now,  Fairgrove,  who  had  been  twice  a  loser  of  several  valuable  horses,  no 
doubt  through  Joaquin's  band,  had  tried  to  take  his  revenge  by  doinor  all  he 
could  to  have  that  robber  taken,  and  half  a  dozen  times,  when  applied  to,  he  had 
loaned  horses  to  suddenly-organized  constabulary  forces. 

He  had  made  himself  prematurely  old  by  abuse  of  liquors,  and  was  pre 
vented  going  out  thief-hunting  himself,  or  he  would  surely  have  been  at  the 
head  of  a  party. 

Rumor  had  it  that  the  marauders  had  turned  up  in  those  parts  once  again, 
and,  as  ill  luck  would  have  it,  a  most  powerful  and  valiant  dog  which  belonged 
to  his  ranch  had  been  shot  accidentally  by  Fairgrove's  young  nephew,  who  was 
practising  at  a  mark  as  a  study,  as  in  more  peaceful  countries,  he  would  have 
had  Latin,  or  French,  or  book-keeping  or  what  you  will  to  do. 

The  animal  had  not  been  killed,  but  to  shorten  his  agony  a  finishing  stroke 
had  been  dealt  him.  For  two  days,  Mr.  Fairgrove  had  been  going  to  town  to 
buy  a  guardian  to  replace  the  lost  one,  but  he  was  of  an  easy  nature. 

As  the  requirement  was  one  in  which  the  women  folks  had  interested  them 
selves,  for  they  drank  in  greedily  all  the  outrageous  stories  of  the  exploits  of 
the  celebrated  bandit,  the  ranchero  had  yielded  at  last  to  the  dropping  fire,  but 
continual,  and  rode  over  to  Jackson  to  make  the  purchase. 

This  was  at  noonday. 

He  dined  with  a  friend  and  took  a  stroll  about  the  town  to  see  the  new 
buildings  run  up  since  his  last  visit. 

It  chanced  that  a  company  in  which  his  companion  was  concerned  had  the 
great  good  fortune  to  turn  up  a  large  nugget,  which  led  to  a  general  rejoicing 
by  all  concerned. 

You  could  not  rejoice  in  California  without  the  very  natural  concomitant,  a 


74  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

punishing  of  the  "  Oh,  be  joyful !"  Mr.  Fairgrove  had  hardly  returned  to  his 
friend's  abode  than  he  laid  down  to  rest. 

He  was  aroused  at  twilight  for  supper. 

"  Had  supper-time  come  ?  Good  heavens  !  whew  !  won't  they  haul  me  over 
the  coals,  at  home  !  I  will  take  a  taste  of  that  brandy  just  up  from  'Frisco, 
and  must  be  off.  Oh,  I  ain't  afraid  on  the  road,  pooh  !  tush  !  bah  !" 

Arid  off  rode  Fairgrove  at  full  speed.  As  a  speedy  arrival  was  his  only  wish 
for — though,  of  course,  the  non-prosecution  of  the  canine  demand  would  still  be 
a  great  grievance  against  him — if  he  should  not  be  home,  he  knew  how  his 
family  would  cry  out  against  having  been  left  for  one  whole  night  with  only  a 
lad  of  fourteen  in  the  house,  for  the  stable-men  and  farm-hands  lived  in  build 
ings  two  hundred  feet  and  more  from  it — as  a  speedy  arrival  lay  closest  to  his 
heart,  he  not  only  spurred  on  at  his  fastest,  but  struck  off  from  the  road  across 
a  neighbor's  land  and  entered  his  estate  by  the  valley. 

The  remaining  effects  of  his  libations,  not  altogether  slept  off,  prompted  him  to 
attempt  a  little  innocent  practical  joke. 

He  let  his  horse  loose,  and,  hiding  the  harness  in  a  bush,  crept  under  cover 
up  towards  his  house. 

He  was  already  chuckling  at  the  fanciful  picture  which  he  drew  of  how  he 
would  be  mistaken  for  a  robber,  and  how  all  would  end  in  laughter,  so  hearty 
as  to  cover  his  sin  of  omission. 

All  at  once  he  stopped. 

Two  of  his  men  had  come  out  of  the  stable.  Two  of  his  men — no,  good 
God,  no ! 

This  couple  were  sheathing  knives  and  were  stealing  along  towards  the 
house. 

The  fumes  of  liquor  yet  clouding  the  watcher's  mind  vanished  at  this  appeal 
to  his  affection  and  to  his  fears. 

This  couple  were  assassins,  and  all  the  workmen  had  been  murdered,  beyond 
a  doubt ! 

He  griped  his  revolver  nervously  and  inspected  the  nipples ;  all  the  caps 
were  on. 

The  two  men  had  crept  up  under  the  extensive  verandah,  piazza,  ground-floor 
balcony,  or  whatever  you  like  to  style  it,  which  ran  around  the  whole  building. 

Fairgrove  braced  himself  ready  to  run  up  and  slay  one  or  both  before  they 
should  make  an  entrance,  but  neither  climbed  over  the  railing  but  crouched 
down  and  glided  under  the  stoop,  after  cleverly  and  noiselessly  ripping  off  a 
board. 

There  was  a  hollow  space  under  the  verandah  of  many  feet  long  and  wide, 
and  three  feet  high. 

As  if  their  disappearance  were  a  signal,  two  other  men  appeared  over  by  the 
out-houses,  and  carefully  made  the  same  transit,  burying  themselves  in  the 
same  way. 

Two  more  couples,  and  at  last  one  man. 

All  was  still,  and  Fairgrove  might  have  doubted  his  vision,  especially  as  the 
displaced  plank  had  been  fitted  in  again. 

What  pained  him  more,  so  poignant  was  the  proof  of  his  family  utterly  un 
suspecting  the  impending  fate,  was  that  there  came  faintly  to  him,  a  snatch  of 
a  song  or  a  light  laugh,  which  were  uttered  by  his  young  niece. 

He  thought  for  a  moment  of  rushing  to  the  house  and  standing  before  the 
opening,  prevent  the  thieves  from  the  movement  until  assistance  should  have 
come.  But  he  remembered  that  window  only  rudely  boarded  over,  opened 
from  the  cellar  into  under  the  piazza,  and  he  was  quite  confident  that  the  con 
cealed  villains  had  already  discovered  it. 

His  men  being  all  disposed  of,  no  assistance  was  about  the  premises. 

He  could  delay,  but  not  prevent  the  murder  of  his  family  and  the  cleaning 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  75 

out  of  his  house.  He  took  the  course  which  was  hardest  and  might  or  not  be 
the  best. 

He  could  only  go  mad  if  they  should  all  be  slain  in  his  absence  ! 

He  never  could  tell  how  he  hastened  back  to  where  he  had  turned  his  horse 
a-drift,  found  him,  caught  him,  bridled  and  saddled  him,  and  dashed  off,  more 
directed  by  instinct  than  by  calculation. 

All  he  knew  he  reached  the  nearest  neighbor's  house  after  an  hour's  madden 
ing  ride,  and  burst  in  upon  the  supper-table  with  the  wild,  crazy  cry : 

"  Haste !  If  it  is  not  till  all  are  asleep  that  they  are  waiting,  good  bye  to 
them !" 

The  moment  he  grew  cooler  and  told  all,  the  friend  roused  the  household, 
and  set  off  back  with  him,  sending  one  of  his  sons  to  town  and  another  to  the 
nearest  miners'  camp,  which  was  on  the  road.  As  these  latter  wrould  have  the 
road  to  travel,  they  would  probably  reach  the  scene  before  the  others,  who  had 
almost  unbroken  country  to  cross.  If  their  signal  should  not  be  answered, 
they  were  to  wait,  unless,  of  course,  something  was  occurring  in  or  about  Fair- 
grove's  house. 

It  was  Joaquin's  men,  under  command  of  Garcia,  who  had  made  the  descent 
on  the  ranch  of  Fairgrove.  They  had  heard  of  the  dog's  death  and,  as  they 
were  all  the  more  sure  of  success  from  that  fact,  which  promised  more  likeli 
hood  of  a  perfect  surprise,  they  had  began  as  we  have  seen  Fairgrove  suspect, 
that  is  :  had  mastered  the  tenants  of  the  out-buildings  just  at  the  moment  of 
their  entering  their  dwellings  at  dusk. 

Masters  were  not  very  exacting  when  a  harsh  word  or  a  cross  look  would 
often  send  a  man  off  to  the  digging,  whose  place  it  would  perhaps  be  impossible 
to  fill  at  the  most  exorbitant  of  wages.  Hence  the  short  hours  of  labor. 

Garcia  had  wanted  to  begin  the  proposed  butchery  at  once,  but  Valenzuela, 
who  was  second,  had  persuaded  him  that  it  would  be  better  to  wait  until  eight 
or  nine,  when  all  would  be  asleep  throughout  the  house.  They  did  not  know 
that  the  master  was  away,  and  gave  the  lad  of  fourteen  credit  for  more  prowess 
than  he  perhaps  possessed. 

Perhaps,  you  will  wonder  why  the  robbers  did  not  charge  without  delay,  as 
here  were  only  two  males  against  their  eight  or  nine. 

Yes,  but  these  fellows  had  found  by  sad  experience  that  the  few  women  who 
were  blessing  the  rude  state  then  were,  if  beautiful  ancestresses  of  the  fair 
daughters  of  El  Dorado's  brilliant  to-day,  made  braver  yet  by  the  encompass 
ing  perils  of  exposed  life  and  were  seldom  so  unluckily  gifted  with  stupid  rela 
tions  as  not  to  be  compelled  to  learn  to  put  an  half-ounce  of  lead  into  the  bull's 
eye  "  plum  center"  at  a  reasonable  distance.  All  of  which  Amazonian  disci 
pline  was  accomplished  at  no  expense  of  modesty,  a  fact  w'hich  women  who 
have  had  their  own  honor  and  dear  ones  to  defend  will  understand,  if  our 
other  readers  do  not. 

All  this  time,  frightening  themselves  for  nothing,  without  dreaming  of  there 
really  being  great  foundation  for  their  fears,  the  females  were  supping  uneasily 
and  almost  afraid  to  retire  to  rest.  The  chamber  they  occupied,  for  they  would 
not  leave  one  another,  was  on  that  side  where  were  concealed  the  thieves.  The 
servant  and  the  children  were  in  the  other  part. 

The  miners,  who  had  been  found  at  their  encampment  by  the  messenger,  had 
instantly  responded  to  the  call,  and,  on  horses  or  pack-mules,  as  the  case  might 
be,  they  had  dashed  along  the  road,  only  dismounting  at  the  entrance  to  Fair- 
grove's  ranch.  Thence  they  ran  along  quietly  but  quickly.  When  they  came 
in  sight  of  the  house,  they  twittered  out  the  signal,  an  imitation  of  a  bird.  No 
resp'onse,  so  they  waited.  But  very  restlessly  though,  for  they  started  at  every 
noise. 

At  last,  though  only  a  few  moments  had  passed,  and  one  or  two  lights 
showed  yet  in  the  house,  it  was  deemed  best  to  forestall  the  bandits'  moves. 


76  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

They  left  the  shadow  of  the  trees  and  proceeded  along  the  side  of  the  house 
in  hopes  of  surprising  the  enemy,  when  a  loud  scream  inside  was  followed  by 
a  hammering  as  of  a  pistol  butt  on  a  door,  and  that  by  a  shot. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  miners  raised  a  cheer  to  appal  the  assailants  and 
to  encourage  our  friends,  another  shout  joined  in  with  theirs,  and  a  number  of 
men  appeared  on  their  right  speeding  toward  the  house  like  themselves.  Both 
parties  of  rescuers  were  on  hand  ;  not  too  early  either. 

One  smashed  in  the  piazza  windows  in  front,  the  other  forced  a  back  window, 
and  four  or  five  daring  men  boldly  penetrated  the  empty  space  under  the 
verandah  and  went  through  the  window  into  the  cellar,  which  had  been  opened. 

Some  time  before  this,  the  women  had  consulted  together  on  their  heartless- 
ness  in  leaving  the  young  girl,  the  servant  and  the  youth  so  far  away.  They 
resolved  to  have  them  come  over  to  their  part  of  the  house,  the  females  to  stay 
with  them,  the  lad  to  occupy  the  adjoining  room.  After  a  delay,  Mrs.  Fair- 
grove's  sister-in-law  valorously  determined  on  executing  the  delivery  of  the 
desire,  and  on  passing  along  down  stairs,  across  the  main  room  and  up  stairs, 
again  alone,  and  in  the  dark,  for  she  preferred,  with  another  feminine  trait,  not 
to  have  a  chance  of  seeing  what  she  dreaded.  With  prudent  preparation,  she 
took  off  all  her  jewelry  and  put  it  in  her  pockets,  winding  her  handkerchief 
round  all  to  prevent  jingling,  had  removed  everything  light-colored  from  her 
dress,  which  was  deep  mourning,  fortunately.  She  wen£  in  her  stocking  feet. 
She  left  the  revolver  they  had  with  her  sister,  gave  her  final  directions  and 
slipped  out  of  the  narrowly-opened  door. 

She  descended  untouched  and  entered  the  main  room ;  as  she  did  so,  she 
heard  on  the  other  side  the  words,  very  faint : 

"  Sh  !  back  !" 

She  went  on,  feeling  for  the  chairs  and  table,  and,  for  an  instant,  did  not 
glance  thitherward.  When  she  did,  she  thought  she  saw  that  tha  door,  which 
led  to  an  entry  and  by  that  to  the  cellar,  was  not  quite  closed  and  she  doubted 
not  that  a  white  dot  she  noted  about  four  feet  from  the  floor  was  a  finger  hold 
ing  it  ajar.  The  person,  if  there  was  one,  had  been  about  to  enter  when  she, 
or  something  else,  had  alarmed  him. 

This  was  one  of  those  moments  when  everything  depended  on  taking  the 
proper  course  out  of  half  a  dozen.  If  she  continued  her  way,  their  return  with 
the  children  would  be  intercepted  beyond  doubt.  If  she  flew  back  to  her  sister, 
the  house  was  divided,  and  each  would  hear  the  death-struggle  of  the  other. 

Like  lightning,  she  sprang  to  the  door  and  threw  her  whole  weight  against  it. 
A  deep,  though  not  loud,  exclamation  of  acute  pain  told  her  that  the  strange 
sound  she  heard  was  the  snapping  of  that  finger-bone  !  The  door  would  not 
shut.  Had  it  been  farther  open,  it  would  have  severed  the  finger  ;  it  crushed 
it,  and  tore  off  the  flesh  of  one  of  the  bandits,  as  it  was.  She  dragged  the  table 
to  her  and  jammed  it  against  the  door,  closing  fully  now,  and  bolted  hurriedly. 
The  key  was  gone,  lost  long  ago  during  non-usage.  Like  one  inspired  she 
heaped  up  chairs  and  everything  within  reach  to  add  to  the  barricade. 

Pistols,  bullets,  and  knife-handles  began  to  hammer  at  the  upper  panels, 
while  kicks  rained  on  the  lower  ones.  A  dreadful  pressure  was  exerted  against 
it.  The  bolt  started,  and  was  bent  out  of  the  loosened  sockets.  It  gave  way  ! 
For  a  moment  only,  for,  as  fortune  would  have  it,  a  tipped-up  chair  caught 
the  lock  with  its  back,  while  its  hind  legs  held  on  the  floor,  and  no  force  except 
that  which  would  drive  all  before  it,  could  open  that  door  now.  Still  throwing 
on  the.  furniture  with  frenzied  hands,  the  woman  worked.  The  robbers  thought 
the  hindrance  was  the  lock,  so  a  pistol  was  clapped  to  the  keyhole  and  fired. 
Exhausted,  for  the  paroxysm  was  over,  the  woman  fell  as  if  she  had  been  "shot 
and  swooned  on  the  carpet,  fortunately  for  her.  Her  sister,  at  the  report, 
screamed  from  upstairs.  The  robbers,  united  in  one  grand  push,  burst  the 
door  in  at  the  hinges  and  tumbled  over  the  awkward  pile. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  77 

While  hesitating  which  way  to  go,  the  cheers  outside  started  them. 

"  Fire  the  house  !"  growled  Garcia. 

"  No,  no,  no  delay,"  cried  another.     "  Back !" 

The  rearmost  turned  and  went  down  the  stairs,  but  were  received,  after  a 
hail  to  which  they  made  no  reply  from  confusion,  with  a  volley.  They  re 
turned  in  quick  time. 

"Come  on,  all's  up!"  said  Valenzuela;  "follow  me.  We  must  save  cur- 
selves  for  the  captain." 

The  shivering  of  glass  of  the  piazza  windows  turned  them  from  the  front,  a 
similar  sound  warned  them  that  the  Lack  was  equally  impracticable. 

"  Hell's  flames  !"  swore  Garcia.  "  I'd  like  to  be  at  Fairgrove's  throat  for 
rousing  the  country  against  us.  We  must  fight  out  this  way,"  and  he  turned 
towards  the  entry  terminating  in.  the  stairs  far  above. 

"  There's  somebody —  "  began  a  cautious  one. 

"  Somebody  1  a  woman,  and  alone,  or  she  wouldn't  be  so  noisy  !  I'll  silence 
her !" 

And  all  followed  Jack's  lead  to  the  upper  story :  not  too  soon,  for  from  three 
directions  the  storming  party  came  into  the  main  room,  the  flashing  of  the 
shots  they  fired  at  the  fugitives  showing  them  the  form  of  the  fainted  woman, 
whom  they  supposed  dead. 

"  Heaven,  heaven  !'^  answered  Fairgrove,  auguring  nothing  favorable  from 
this  first  sight.  "  No  quarter  !  Death,  death  !" 

Luckily,  at  the  very  first  alarm,  Mrs.  Fairgrove  had  locked  herself  in,  and 
the  three-fingered  desperado  could  only  fire  a  shot  through  the  woodwork  and 
was  disappointed  there.  The  whole  of  the  Mexicans  rushed  through  the  ad 
joining  room  and  jumped  out  upon  the  'piazza,  over  which  they  slung  them 
selves  and  slid  down  the  columns.  Here  the  last  of  them  was  the  living  target 
in  which  was  buried  three  or  four  shots,  and  he  sprang  off  into  the  air,  in  which 
he  died,  for  it  was  a  corpse  that  fell  in  a  heap  on  the  ground. 

The  others  ran  off,  fired  at  by  such  of  the  pursuers  as  had  jumped  through 
the  windows  upon  the  top  of  the  verandah,  and  by  the  others,  who  had  made 
the  circuit  on  perceiving  their  design  and  who  had  left  the  building  by  the 
•ground-floor.  Fairgrove  sprang  off  the  top  and,  alighting  with  a  shock  that 
would  have  used  up  a  man  under  less  excitement,  (for  he  believed  that  his  sister 
was  undoubtedly  dead  and  'his  wife  at  least  hurt  by  the  passing  shot  which 
Garcia  had  driven  through  the  bedroom  door,  and  after  which  she  really  fainted 
woman  had  been  silent),  he  took  the  lead  of  the  pursuers. 

The  flying  bandits  had  struck  for  the  hills  sheltering  the  ranch,,  with  a  start 
of  sixty  or  seventy  yards  ahead  of  Fairgrove,  foremost  of  those  following  them. 
He  was  in  advance  of  his  friends  by  some  twenty  feet.  The  fugitives  bounded 
up  the  hills  as  men  can  fly  when  death  is  the  same  as  delay.  The  pursuers 
began  to  fire  at  them,  but,  besides  the  disadvantage  of  firing  at  any  mark  above 
one's  standpoint,  there  was  that  of  each  party  being  in  haste  and  motion.  The 
fastest  of  the  flyers  had  attained  such  an  altitude  by  this  time  that  they  halted 
in  the  bushes  to  cover  their  comrades  with  their  weapons,  and  all  being  togeth 
er  on  the  top,  and  drawing  a  long  breath  while  delivering  a  general  discharge, 
off  they  went  again  down  the  other  side  of  the  rising  ground. 

The  chasers,  pausing  a  moment  on  receiving  a  volley,  divided  into  two 
bodies  !  Fairgrove  with  the  smaller,  composed  of  the  youngest  men,  ran  on 
after  the  robbers,  while  the  rest  prudently  went  quite  the  other  way  to  mount 
their  horses  and  try  to  overtake  the  escaped  ones  by  this  means. 

But  their  scouring  the  neighborhood  until  morning  was  nearly  all  in  vain, 
for  all  they  found  of  the  robbers  was  one  dead  and  another  dying,  whom  their 
companions  had  been  compelled  to  abandon.  The  rest  had  reached  the  rendez- 
TOUS,  had  been  gloomily  listened  to  by  the  captain  and,  almost  immediately, 
had  started  off  with  him  to  Indian  Creek. 


78  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California}; 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

VALENZUELA    MAKES    A    CAPTURE    BY    BEING    HIS    LEADER'S    NAMESAKE. mi 

"BANKER'S"  MISTRESS. — GARCIA  COMES  IN  HANDY. — THF  DOUBLE 
SURPRISE  AND  THE  DEATH  OF  THE  GO-BETWEEN. 

THE  companions  of  the  highwayman  were  over  in  Hangtown,  while  he  stayed 
at  the  Springs,  keeping  quiet,  after  the  failure  to  assassinate  Mr.  Fairgrove. 

Joaquin,  Valenzuela  and  Garcia,  as  a  matter  of  course,  went  the  rounds  of  tho 
places  of  amusement,  playing  the  games  and  making  their  faces  a  little  known 
to  the  girls  in  the  dance-houses. 

We  have  shown  sufficiently  already,  and  will  show  still  more  clearly  here 
after,  how  imprudent  Garcia  was,  especially  when  liquor  had  reduced  him  to  a 
less  cool  state  of  mind  than  natural. 

From  this  recklessness  the  following  true  as  tragic  adventure  arose. 

One  evening  as  Valenzuela,  alone,  was  strolling  along,  he  noticed  that  he  was 
followed  by  a  stranger,  all  the  stranger,  too,  by  its  being  a  women. 

Women  were  not  so  numerous  nor  so  safe  up  by  the  mines  as  to  be  out  un 
attended  after  dark,  for  the  robber  not  to  notice  this. 

But,  being  a  little  inflated  by  drink  as  well  as  a  vanity  that  it  prompted,  he 
twirled  his  moustache  and  beard,  smiled,  dark  as  it  was,  and  slackened  his 
pace. 

Then,  he  turned  abruptly  and  was  on  the  woman  before  she  could  slip  away, 
if  she  had  so  desired.  i 

But  on  the  contrary,  she  came  right  up  to  him,  smiling  reassuringly. 

"  Senor,"  said  she  in  bad  Spanish,  and  in  a  low  voice  full  of  mystery.  "  I 
know  of  a  senorita,  a  real  preciosita,  who  is  sighing  her  heart  out  to  see  you 
close  to.  If  you  are  brave  enough,  brave  as  Joaquin  the  gentleman  of  the  high 
way,"  added  she  with  emphasis  full  of  meaning,  "  you  won't  be  afraid  to  meet 
me  under  the  tree,  on  that  corner  at  eight  to-morrow  night !" 

Seeing  that — only  pausing  to  be  sure  that  she  had  been  understood — the 
speaker  was  going  to  leave  him,  Valenzuela  hastened  to  catch  her  by  the  arm 
and  thus  withdraw  a  part  of  the  rebozo  that  hid  her  features. 

"  The  deuce !"  muttered  he,  disappointed  and  ceasing  to  lick  his  lips  as  he  had 
begun  to  do. 

The  face  was  that  of  a  woman,  as  old  as  the  hills  and  less  attractive  by  far. 

"  I'm  a  stranger,  I  don't  know  the  lady,  who  is  she  ?"  said  the  bandit. 

"  Let  me  go,  senor,  I  must  be  back.  Be  satisfied  with  what  I  said.  Will 
you  come?" 

A  score  of  thoughts  flashed  upon  him. 

His  name,  it  was  clear,  and  his  "  handsome  appearance  (as  he  thought  to 
himself)"  had  made  him  be  mistaken  for  his  superior. 

Flattering,  but,  if  the  lady  of  the  rendezvous  should  turn  out  to  be  Madam 
Vigilance  Committee — whew  !  So  he  hesitated. 

"  Sainted  Mother  of  Heaven  !"  cried  the  woman  who  rapped  out  Spanish 
oaths  better  than  she  spoke  more  proper  words,  "  can  a  young  Mexican  be  a 
coward — pshaw  !  there  isn't  a  salteador  who  wouldn't  risk  the  noose  for  the 
beauty  I  speak  for " 

u  J»j| » 

•'  Do  it,  eh  ?"  and  off  she  went,  turning  her  head  to  show  him  her  finger  on 
her  lips. 

Valenzuela  watched  her — now  a  shadow  amid  the  shadows,  then  in  the  light 
streaming  out  of  saloons,  till  she  was  gone. 

"  The  confounded  corrupteress  of  virtuous  youth  !"  swore  he  in  mock  indig 
nation.  "  Cool  as  anything,  that !  What  next,  I  wonder  1  Well,  it'll  keep, 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  79 

while  I  look  into  friend  Barcelonne's  and  imagine  his  daughter  the  beauty — the 
precious  bait  this  old  fisherwoman  is  trolling  for  me  with  !" 

He  thought  no  more  about  the  affair  till  next  afternoon  when  he  woke  up 
after  a  drunken  slumber. 

He  had  dressed  himself  for  another  nocturnal  promenade,  when  he  called  the 
appointment  to  mind. 

If  the  place  had  been  the  City  of  Mexico,  or  Guaymas,  or  even  El  Paso, 
Tubac,  or  Arispe  he  would  have  let  the  pros  very  soon  overpower  the  cons. 

As  he  hated  reasoning,  he  settled  the  matter  by  drawing  three  or  four  coins 
out  of  his  pocket  and  slapping  them  down  on  the  table. 

The  Mexican  eagles  with  their  wriggling  prizes  of  snakes,  were  uppermost  on 
every  piece. 

"  Go's  the  word,"  muttered  he.     "  The  Libertad  is  very  near  Libertine." 

He  proceeded  to  arm  himself,  with  a  little  more  care  than  usual,  for,  as  he 
said: 

"  Spain,  Mexico,  California — countries  where  weapons  are  plenty,  so  that's 
there  are  daggers  stuck  in  every  girl's  garter." 

At  the  time,  he  went  out. 

The  old  woman  was  at  the  trysting-place  and  the  two  went  on  together. 
*  *  *    '  *  *  *  * 

Garcia  sat  before  a  monte  table  in  Hannigan's  saloon. 

At  the  first  of  the  evening,  he  had  had  great  luck,  but  now  he  lost  heavily, 
sum  upon  sum. 

At  last,  Jack  slowly  got  up,  hesitated  whether  to  upset  the  table  and  smash 
his  chair  on  the  heads  of  the  crowd,  did  not  do  so  fortunately,  strode  to  the 
sideboard,  took  a  glassful  of  some  liquid  preparation  from  the  hands  of  a 
waiter,  and  took  it  all  down,  ice  and  mint-stalks  at  two  gulps  like  a  whale  en 
gulfing  sprats  and  "  squids." 

Then  he  moved  towards  the  entrance,  slowly. 

He  had  not  reached  it  before  a  slight  tap  on  his  elbow  made  him  look  around 
or  rather  down,  angrily,  for  he  felt  in  the  "  tearing"  humor. 

A  crooked,  dwarfed  figure  of  about  four  feet  six  was  beside  him. 

He  recognized  the  face  and  trunk,  which  was  perfect,  as  the  bankers  of  the 
very  table  at  which  his  funds  had  been  converted  into  decidedly  sinking  ones. 

As  the  dwarf  had  always  been  seated,  he  had  never  noticed  the  malformation 
of  his  lower  limbs,  which  seemed  to  have  been  visited  equally  wickedly  by 
different  sprites,  for  they  were  bandy,  twisted,  bowed,  shriviled-up,  and  termi 
nated  in  some  peculiar  mis-shaping  of  the  feet,  for  the  wadded  boot  was  not  at 
all  of  a  natural  shape. 

The  three-fingered  Mexican  observed  all  this,  and  therefore  set  down  the 
maliciousness  and  imprisoned  violence  revealed  on  the  countenance  upturned  to 
his  to  no  evil  meaning  to  him. 

"  Do  you  want  to  make  up  your  loss  ?"  squealingly  hissed  the  dwarf,  work 
ing  his  fingers,  as  exquisitely  shaped  as  a  lady's,  nervously  till  one  would  havf 
thought  they  were  handfuls  of  snakes. 

Jack  looked  down  and  all  over  the  speaker. 

"  I  don't  mind,"  said  he  readily. 

"  Steel  recovers  gold  often,"  said  the  Quilp  of  the  green  cloth  in  a  hoarse  tone 
now,  for  he  was  not  master  of  his  voice  any  more  than  a  confirmed  asthmatic. 

"  So  they  say,"  answered  the  bandit,  most  non-committalty  if  there  is  such  a 
word. 

The  two  looked  at  one  another,  till  their  glances  met  into  one  of  complete 
agreement. 

.The  gnome  gambler  drew  the  broken  gamester  aside,  and  the  two  began 
whispering,  their  voices  being  past  hearing  even  if  they  had  shouted  in  that  ev- 


80  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

erlasting  chorus  of  chinking  coin,  scuffling  of  feet,  jingling  of  glasses,  explosions 

of  excited  voices  in  oaths,  yells  or  laughter. 

******* 

Some  days  passed. 

Joaquin.  the  chief  heard  no  bad  tidings  of  his  comrades  and  concluded  no  news 
was  good  news. 

Garcia  and  Valenzuela  slept  off  their  night's  libations  during  the  morning, 
and  had  a  little  practice  with  cards  in  the  afternoon  perhaps  ere  sallying  out, 
but  separately  now. 

The  latter  made  excuses,  which  must  have  appeared  for  some  reason  comical 
to  his  friend,  for  he  laughed  heartily  to  himself  as  soon  as  Valenzuela's  back 
was  turned. 

Dark  was  coming  on  when  Garcia  and*  his  employer,  as  the  dwarf  banker 
may  be  called,  were  closeted  together  in  a  little  room  behind  the  bar,  where  the 
staff  of  Hannigan  kept  their  out-of-doors  habiliments. 

"  Well  ?"  growled  the  dwarf  eagerly. 

"  There,"  answered  the  Mexican,  producing  a  small  box  of  enameled  iron 
very  tastefully  got  up  and  evidently  a  trinket-case  from  some  lady's  dressing- 
room. 

The  large  eyes  of  the  little  man  seemed  to  swell  into  great  globes  of  flame. 

"  Hers  !  hers  !  hers  !"  he  repeated  three  times  in  as  many  variations  of  tone. 

"  His  !  his  !  his !"  said  Garcia,  not  actually  mocking  the  speaker  though, 
whose  "  touchy  "  temperament  he  had  learnt  no  doubt  by  this  time. 

With  the  utmost  coolness,  he  proceeded  to  open  the  casket,  of  which  the  lock 
had  been  broken  already,  and  lift  out  a  packet  of  letters. 

He  untied  a  strip  of  satin  binding  them,  divided  the  bundle  into  halves  with 
provoking  exactness  and,  while  giving  the  banker  one  portion  with  his  three- 
fingered  hand,  put  the  other  into  his  open  jacket's  bosom. 

'*  You  know  how  to  read  " —  began  Garcia  half  jesting. 

But  the  excited  dwarf  had  scarcely  glanced  at  the  first  of  the  notes  than  the 
blood  rushed  into  his  face  and  filled  the  veins  so  fearfully  that  it  really  made 
his  disproportioned  head  still  larger ;  his  eyes  rolled  under  their  brows  in  a 
way  to  remind  those  who  have  ever  had  the  misfortune  to  see  it,  of  the  fiery 
hull  of  a  destroyed  steamship  rocking  beneath  an  inky  cloud  on  the  still-tossing 
billows  that  were  changeful  monuments  over  the  loved  but  the  lost  gone  down 
with  the  spars  and  life-preservers  they  were  yet  lashed  to  ! 

His  excessive  redness  was  almost  -immediately  blanched  into  a  pallor,  quite 
as  awful  and  unexpected. 

He  had  bitten  his  lips  or  his  tongue,  too,  for  a  bloody  froth  came  out  over 
his  beard  and  stained  with  a  couple  of  drops,  the  immaculate  shirt-front  in  which 
glittered  a  wonderful  diamond  cluster-pin,  those  two  chief  parts  of  a  profession 
al  blackleg's  uniform. 

"  He's  going  to  choke,"  thought  Garcia,  and  he  was  almost  on  the  point  of 
running  out  to  the  bar  for  water  or  brandy. 

But  men  do  not  swoon  or  suffocate  so  easily. 

"  Bitter  pill,  I  know,  but  it's  got  to  go  down,  and  the  sooner  the  better,"  said 
bandit  Job's  comforter,  half  aloud. 

The  dwarf  was  in  too  great  a  fury  to  mind  him. 

He  leaped  around  the  little  room  from  side  to  side  like  some  wounded  ani 
mal — like  a  puma  with  shot-broken  leg,  till,  getting  more  calm,  he  stopped  at 
the  washstand,  on  which  was  the  light,  and  began  to  read  with  a  forced  tian- 
quility  that  was  worse  than  the  greatest  violence  would  have  been. 

He  grew  paler  and  paler,  shuddered,  started,  seemed*  turned  into  stone  till 
AS  suddenly  he  would  shiver  when  he  came  on  some  pa-ssaga  relating  to  him 
self,  perhaps,  as  if  the  rowels  of  a  Spanish  horse-breaker's  spur  was  ploughing 
up  his  flesh. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  81 

His  lips  quivered  at  times  like  the  poor  fellows  who  died  on  the  Isthmus 
with  the  fever  and  ague,  before  many  another  life  of  white  and  mongrel  had 
been  given  to  make  that  railroad  which  leaps  past  the  deathful  swamps  and 
murderous  woods. 

Then  again  his  lips  would  be  drawn  together  till  the  least  sound  could  not 
escape,  and  the  mouth  resembled  those  mute  yet  terrible  old  cannon  that  defy 
the  rust  in  the  ruined  yet  standing  walls  of  Panama's  defence. 
'     Garcia  stood  ready  for  a  frightful  outbreak,  inwardly  rejoicing,  for  he  was 
just  fiend  enough  to  relish  agony  of  this  kind,  but  the  dwarf  only  said  hoarsely: 

"  I  want  the  rest,  all !" 

"  Five  hundred  is  the  figure,"  remarked  the  bandit,  rustling  the  letters  he 
had  pocketed. 

"  What,  bargain  with  me  !"  began  the  dwarf,  giving  rein  to  his  fury's  steed. 
"  Give  them  up,  or  I'll " 

"  You'll — what  1  Pooh !"  laughed  the  robber  over  him,  eyeing  him  with 
some  such  a  look  as  a  wild  bull-elephant  might  give  to  a  tiger-cub. 

Meanwhile,  the  banker  had  checked  himself,  and  taken  out  a  well-filled  wal 
let,  from  which  he  took  a  check. 

"  For  six  hundred  and  some  cents  on  the  express  men  of  San  Francisco.  You 
can  get  it  cashed  at  Sacramento,  or  anybody  will  buy  it." 

When  the  Mexican  had  carefully  folded  up  the  paper  and  put  it  away,  he 
handed  the  letters  to  his  patron,  who  grasped  them  with  his  gaze  too  intently 
fastened  on  them  to  notice  how  greedily  the  bandit  had  regarded  his  wallet. 

"  The  same,  same  thing,"  muttered  the  dwarf  after  having  scanned  a  few  of 
the  notes,  "  love  for  him — scorn,  worse — G —  d —  her  !  for  me  !  oh  !  I'll  have 
her  heart's  blood  never  mind  !  Now,  hark  ye,  amigo,"  continued  he  to  the 
bandit,  "  you  are  in  the  way  to  make  your  fortune,  even  as  fortunes  rate  in  this 
blessed  land.  You  kill  this  Joaquin  and  get  the  reward  out  for  him,  dead  or 
alive !  You  have  had  considerable  money  already.  Well !  am  I  rating  a 
woman's  life  too  low  at  a  thousand,  say  ?" 

Garcia  looked  as  grave  and  calculating  as  a  Babbage  inventing  a  new  machine, 
or  a  Socrates  smacking  his  lips  over  the  hemlock. 

"Considering  all  things,  I'm  agreeable,"  returned  he. 

"  But  no  blood  of  hers  is  to  be  shed,  no,  no,  none  by  you.  I  want  that  satis 
faction !"  said  the  dwarf,  growling,  and  grinding  his  teeth,  while  his  fingers  re 
sembled  the  twining  snakes  once  more. 

The  bandit  held  out  his  hands,  over  his  hirer  as  if  he  meant  to  strangle  the 
latter  himself,  and  worked  his  fingers  in  emulation  of  the  other,  till  the  four 
hands  were  uplifted  as  it  were  in  burlesque  by  demons  who  had  witnessed  the 
oath  of  William  Tell  and  his  friends. 

"  Come  along,  then,  since  you  understand,"  said  the  dwarf,  rolling  along  in 
advance  out  of  the  room,  more  like  a  tar  on  his  "  sea-legs"  than  anybody  else. 

"  Understand  7"  said  his  satellite,  grinning.  "  May  I  hang  high  if  I  don't.  I 
knife  Joaquin  (here  he  laughed  queerly),  and  choke  the — a — woman,  while  you 
slice  her,  ha,  ha !" 

"  And  we'll  attend  to  the  pocket-book  afterwards,"  added  he,  to  himself, 

"  Bleed  bank  and  banker,  that's  rich  !" 

******* 

Meanwhile,  the  woman  who  was  the  main  cause  of  all  this,  was  with  her  old 
serving-woman. 

She  was  somewhat  uneasy. 

"What  do  you  think  of  such  goings  on,  Lizzie?"  she  asked.  "Mr.  Walters 
never  let  a  day  go  by  without  showing  his  hideous  Tom  Thumb  figure  here,  to 
me.  Come,  tell  me  what  you  think  of  it." 

"  I  can  only  say,  Miss  Laury,  that  he  don't  guess  how  handsome  you  look 

to-day,  or " 

6 


82  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

"  Oh,  away  with  such  stuff.  I  might  have  lived  in  New  York  to  this  day, 
pampered  with  every  kind  of  luxury,  instead  of  being  out  in  this  rude  and 
barbarous  world*  listening  to  a  jargon  about  '  gulche.s,'  and  '  nuggets,'  and 
'  pockets,'  and  *  claims,'  and  the  deuce  knows  what  else." 

"Then  all  I  can  say  is,  that  p'raps  the  imp — beg  your  pardon— has  smelt 
a  mice  with  the  ugly  nose  on  his  monstrous  face.  Maybe  he  saw  something 
yesterday  that  aroused  his  suspicions — 

"  Well,  that  was  all  your  fault  for  falling  asleep,  Liz. 

"  But  no — give  the  old  fellow  his  due.  He  was  in  first  rate  spirits  yester 
day,  for  which  I  give  him  credit.  But  I  cannot  bear  the  sight  of  him. 

"  Oh,  my  Mexican  is  so  different. 

"  But  I  grow  tired  of  all  this  medley  of  mixed  wealth  and  beggary — of 
mixed  luxury  and  privation.  One  day  drinking  champagne  out  of  tin  dip 
pers — the  next  drinking  common  whiskey  out  of  silver  goblets. 

"  One  day  you  are  flattered,  feasted,  and  caressed — the  next  in  danger  of 
your  Hie  irom  slashing  bowie  knives  or  flying  bullets.  * 

"  You  are  introduced  to  a  fellow  dressed  like  a  prince,  with  silver-mounted 
saddle  and  fingers  flashing  with  diamonds  ;  and  a  few  hours  after  his  high 
ness  is  dangling  by  the  nock  from  a  tree,  thanks  to  the  promptitude  of  Judge 
Lynch. 

"  Again,  you  meet  with  a  man  in  a  red  shirt  and  pilot-cloth  pants  with  a 
three  years'  heard  on  his  cheek  and  chin,  and  not  a  single  red  in  his  pocket. 
You  treat  him  with  contempt,  and  find  that  you  have  been  snubbing  a  real 
gentleman,  by  birth,  education,  manners,  and  worth." 

She  was  fair  enough  looking,  was  the  woman  who  was  giving  utterance  to 
these  snatches  of  sense,  and  she  gave  other  evidences  of  having  been  well 
reared  and  carefully  educated  in  her  far  away  home. 

But,  alas,  she  had  parted  with  all  that  native  goodness  of  heart  that  she 
once  possessed  and  was  now  sunk  so  low  as  to  be  the  leman  of  every  adven 
turer. 

"  I  was  saying — what?  oh,  yes.  My  monster  was  in  good  humor,  indeed. 
He  promised  mo  some  jewelry,  especially  a  necklace.  But  neither  he  nor  it 
will  be  here  to-night,  I  hope.  But  my  love  of  a  graceful,  handsome,  gallant 
bandit  will  bo  here — hark  !  oh  !  quick  !  Lizzie,  run  !" 

While  the  speaker,  quite  animated  now,  took  one  hurried  look  at  the  glass, 
and  then  sank  down  on  the  sofa,  which  was  the  article  of  the  room's  furniture, 
in  a  tempting  attitude  so  deeply  studied  as  to  seem  natural,  the  servant  was 
away  like  a  rather  slow-flying  arrow. 

When  she  returned,  she  followed  Senor  Valenzuela,  whoso  face  was 
wreathed  with  smiles. 

The  old  woman  took  a  last  survey  of  the  apartment,  exchanged,  a  knowing 
glance  with  her  mistress,  and  vanished. 

If  the  couple  on  whom  she  had  just  turned  her  back  had  not  been  full  of 
themselves,  they  would  have  heard  a  suppressed  sound  and  a  faint  scuffle  in 
the  passage,  and  afterwards  a  growl,  which  signified  in  Garcia's  vocabulary  : 

"  Valga  mo  Dios  !  the  old  hag  all  but  made  ma  a  Two-fingered  Jack  with 
the  one  or  two  fangs  she  has  left.  Quiet,  you  venerable  !" 

The  ancient  camerista  had  run  into  the  very  arms  of  the  bandit-in-waidng, 
and  ho  had  almost  instantly  reduced  her  to  unconsciousness  with  the  press 
ure  round  her  throat  of  his  vise-like  hands. 

In  the  meantime  the  lovers  had  billed  and  cooed. 

"  Oh,  my  dear  love  of  a  hero  !"  sighed  Laura,  as  romantically  as  a  girl  of 
fifteen,  "  when,  oh,  when  are  we  to  start  for  San  Francisco  and  the  States  ? 
I  have  plenty  of  money,  you  have  as  much,  you  assure  me,  let  us  go  there  to 
enjoy  ourselves.  You  can  be  a  Spanish  prince  ;  you  look  it.  Won't  we  lead 
a  life  &f  brilliancy  !  theatres,  moonlight  drives,  suppers,  parties,  all  the  balls, 
every  mortal  thing  heart  can  desire  !"  ^ 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  83 

The  syren  looked  very  handsome. 

Her  cheeks  were  suffused  with  something  of  the  red  blushes  of  her  spring 
time  ;  her  eyes  danced  and  sparkled  like  brilliants ;  and  her  superb  figure 
was  set  off  with  everything  that  could  display  it  to  the  best  advantage. 

She  forced  him  away  with  a  strength  generally  to  be  found  in  the  perfect 
ly  formed,  a  strength  which  explained  why  the  dwarf  required  his  bravo  to 
hold  her  while  he  should  deal  the  blows. 

"  Joaquin,  when  we  are  aboard  the  steamer,  and  the  coast  out  of  view." 

The  slight,  small  Mexican  girls  were  before  sufficiently  beautiful  in  the 
robber's  eyes;  ho  had  no  other  kind  to  contrast  with  them,  so  that  this  love 
ly  woman,  with  dark  brown  hair,-and  dark  eyes  approaching  jet,  but  of  a 
milk  and  roses  complexion,  with  a  stature  equal  to  his,  splendidly  rounded, 
subdued  him  so  that  he  assented  to  everything. 

And  all  the  while  lie,  the  lady-killer,  the  mem  experienc-ad  in  woman's 
wiles,  forsooth,  did  not  dream  that  little  was  he  to  obtain  from  her,  her  sole 
intentions  being  to  attract  him  to  San  Francisco,  where  she  would  coolly  turn 
over  the  supposed  Joaquin  to  the  authorities. 

The  reward  would  nicely  pay  her  passage  homo,  and  fit  her  up  in  dresses 
and  jewelry,  was  to  make  her  the  belle  who  always  gets  the  best  seat  in  the 
cabin,  has  the  captain's  telescope,  books  and  conversation,  as  well  as  the  first 
help  at  the  table  and  the  wine  of  wines. 

"  And  will  not  your  little  man,  the  tortilla,  be  in  a  dreadful  state  ?"  asked 
the  robber. 

"  Oh,  I  suppose  so.  You  ought  to  see  him  when  ho  is  mad — just  like 
a  devil.  He  stamped  around  this. room  like  a — I  don't  know  what ;  oh,  he's 
awful  at  times.  He  is  quite  agreeable  by  contrast  just  now,  though.  H<$ 
has  promised  mo  no  end  of  things,  which  he  will-  have  up  from  the  city.  He 
is  ricli  enough  and  generous  enough,  that  is  true." 

"  Rich  ?  ho  ought  to  be.  Why,  I've  lost  several  thousand  at  his  very 
table,"  said  Valenzuela. 

"Indeed!  Oh,  you  gamblers !  If  you  could  only  seo  my  banker  when 
he's  in  the  humor  and  describes  and  mimics  the  faces  of  the  losers  and  win 
ners.  He  is  impassable  as  statue." 

"  As  a  statue.  Never  winks  as  he  draws  the  piles  towards  him  or  pushes 
them  away." 

"So  I  believe.  Then  we'll  only  be  enjoying  your  own  money  again,  by 
taking  his,"  said  Laura,  with  a  smile  that  had  nothing  to  do  with  her  wordo, 
but  which  was  extremely  bewitching  nevertheless. 

"That  is  very  true,  my  girl,"  said  Valenzuela.  "Has  he  most  of  his 
money  here,  or  does  ho  send  it  to  tho  States  ?"  continued  the  robber,  who 
was  not  so  enthralled  as  to  iorget  tho  chance  there  appeared  to  be  of  enrich 
ing  himself  with  the  gambler's  hoarded  wealth. 

**  Oh,  lie  has  any  quantity  of  gold,  in  dust,  nuggets,  and  coin,  besides 
he:  ps  of  watches  and  rings,  which  he  loans  money  on  to  his  customers  when 
they  'get  broke ' — as  they  frequently  do,"  replied  Laura. 

"  Is  ho  not  afraid  of    osing  all  this  treasure  ?" 

"But  this  is  dull  talking,  my  girl,"  said  the  robber. 

"  True — true,"  said  Laura.     "  But  I  will  soon  surprise  you." 

"  Surprise  me  in  what  manner  ?" 

"  You  shall  soon  see  the  present  from  my  dwarf." 

"  The  present  *r" 

"Yes.     I'm  promised  a  necklace  of  great  value,  but  it  hasn't  come " 

"  Pardon,  seuorita,  here  it  is !"  broke  in  a  rude  voice. 

The  lovers  started  up,  and  Valenzuela  placed  himself  before  the  woman, 
his  knife  in  his  hand. 

But  he  lowered  its  point  almost  instantly. 


84  Joaquin,   (the  Claude  Duval  of  California); 

"  Jack  !"  he  exclaimed  at  the  height  of  surprise. 

*'  Yes,  Joaquin,"  returned  the  bandit. 

*'  What  brings  you  here,  of  all  in  the  world  ?" 

"  I  told  you.  Senorita,  here's  your  necklace !"  continued  Jack,  stretching 
out  his  hands  most  significantly. 

She  recoiled. 

lie  laughed,  and  began  whispering  to  his  comrade. 

"  Not  a  moment  to  be  lost !"  cried  the  latter,  thereupon  ;  "  pack  up  your 
valuables  quickly  !  The  banker  has  paid  this  man  to  help  kill  you  and  me ! 
Come." 

Like  one  in  a  dream,  the  beauty  caught  up  here  and  there  an  article,  stuffed 
all  into  the  first  little  box  at  hand  and  while  she  robed  herself,  Valenzuela  ex 
changed  a  few  last  words  with  his  companion  in  crime. 

Then,  the  robber,  carrying  the  jewel-box,  and  the  woman  ran  out  of  the  room, 
he  coolly,  she  mechanically.  Garcia  followed  them  into  the  entry,  but  only  to 
lift  unseen  the  body  of  the  stifled  woman,  and  lug  it  back  into  the  bedroom. 

He  flung  it  on  the  bed,  covered  it  over,  tossed  a  silk  scarf  of  gay  colors  on 
the  face,  and  gave  the  body  a  severe  pinch  on  the  side,  which,  forcing  an  instin- 
tive  shrinking  away,  proved  that  Lizzie  was  not  lifeless. 

Next,  the  robber  remembered  his  trade  and,  after  repairing  the  disorder 
caused  in  the  *room  by  the  flight,  pocketed  whatever  there  was  portable  and 
valuable,  flung  a  satisfied  look  over  the  place,  indulged  in  what  seemed  a  sudden 
fit  of  madness  in  dancing  about  and  kicking  over  a  chair  or  two  and  the  table, 
Irom  which  slid  the  candlestick  to  be  extinguished  on  the  floor. 

Then,  he  pushed  out  the  window,  and  leant  out. 

A  black  ball  was  beneath,  having  just  escaped  the  fallen  sash. 

"  Quick  !"  said  Jack,  leaning  out  farther  than  ever  till  he  caught  hold  of  the 
dwarf 's  hands. 

The  latter  was  mounted  on  a  gardner's  wheelbarrow,  standing  on  which  on 
tiptoe  made  him  about  a  man's  height. 

Most  unceremoniously,  in  fact  with  no  more  care  than  the  Vigilance  Com 
mittee's  hangman  displayed  when  running  their  convicts  up  to  the  pulley-sheave 
of  the  projecting  beam  of  a  grain-loft,  the  Mexican  pulled  his  employer  clean 
through  the  window  into  the  room. 

His  haste  was  compelled  by  his  hearing  a  choking  sob  behind  him,  from  the 
bed,  which  betokened  Lizzie's  coming  to. 

He  dropped  the  dwarf  on  the  floor  and  crying  :  "  Come,  come  !"  darted  at  the 
form  just  moving  the  coverlet. 

He  arrived  just  in  time  to  smother  the  woman's  voice,  for  she  had  recovered 
consciousness  and  would  have  uttered  a  shrill  scream  only  for  Jack's  iron 
gripe. 

He  merely  let  her  have  a  little  breath,  just  as  an  angler  gives  a  fish  "  play," 
and  hauled  her  upon  the  floor  completely  disguised  by  the  whole  of  the  sheets 
and  counterpanes. 

"  Quick,  sir,"  said  the  wretch  coolly ;  "  she's  lively,  and  I  cannot  hold  her " 

The  monstrosity  gave  full  sweep  to  his  rage. 

While  the  woman  suffered  for  her  mistress,  groaning,  attempting  to  shriek 
and  writhing  horribly,  the  dwarf  plied  the  dagger,  yelling : 

"  I'm  a  horrible,  disgusting  object !  I'm  worse  than  a  snake  !  I'm  a  reptile ! 
I'm  a  despicable,  hateful  crawling  newt !  I'm  a — wretch  !  I — I !  ah !  Go, 
shameful  thing  to  find  your  superior  man  of  a  lover  !  Is  he  dead,  sir?'' 

"  If  he  ain't,  he  will  be  soon,"  returned  Garcia  chuckling.  "  She's  a  goner, 
anyhow,"  pursued  he,  unclasping  his  hands  from  the  neck  of  the  mufHed  woman, 
a  corpse  bleeding  at  fifty  gashes  now. 

"  Light  up  till  I  see  them  both  !"  said  the  dwarf  kneeling  down  by  Lizzie, 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  85 

and  while  holding  his  blood-running  blade  in  one  closely  clenched  hand,  he 
began  unfolding  the  envelopes  of  the  murdered  one. 

At  the  same  moment  that  Three-fingered  Jack  tranquilly  hunted  up  a  candle 
and  lit  it,  he  heard  the  dwarf  emit  a  dreadful  howl. 

He  had  touched  the  face  of  the  dead  woman  and  had  naturally  been  amazed 
to  feel  wrinkles  and  roughness  in  lieu  of  Laura's  matchless  soft  and  even  flesh. 

His  hair  stood  on  end  like  a  vulture's  neck-feathers,  and  he  leaped  up  and 
snatched  away  the  candle  from  the  grinning  desperado. 

«  Hell  fire  !  it's  the  old  jade  V9 

"  So  it  is,"  said  Three-fingered  Jack,  as  tranquilly  as  possible. 

The  dwart  turned  on  him,  and  brandished  his  blood-streaked  dagger. 

"  Are  you  false  !  where's  the  dead  man !" 

"  In  your  shoes,  you  fool !"  roared  the  Mexican,  whose  knife  was  already  out. 

The  candle  was  flung  in  his  face,  as  the  dwarf  followed  it  in  a  spring  at  the 
bandit's  throat. 

In  the  dark  ihe  struggle  went  on. 

Suddenly  as  many  as  twenty  shots  rang  out,  and  a  shout  went  up  in  the 
same  place,  outside  the  house. 

"  Joaquin  the  robber  !     Fire,  fire  on  him  !" 

"  The  devil !"  exclaimed  Garcia,  half  rising  and  kneeling  on  the  conquered 
dwarf,  while  he  searched  him.  "  It  was  time  to  finish  the  little  hunchback  with 
a  bone  (of  steel)  in  his  throat.  I've  the  money,  anyhow." 

He  kicked  the  dwarf  upon  the  other  body  and  listened. 

The  sounds  in  the  street  had  continued  but  went  away  from  the  house. 

"  All  right.  Valenzuela  clear.  I  hope,  with  the  booty.  Good  night,  loving 
couple,"  concluded  he  laughing  as  he  backed  out  of  the  room,  casting  a  farewell 
look  on  the  two  bodies  horribly  seeming  to  embrace  one  another. 

When  Valenzuela  and  his  beautiful  charge  made  for  the  front  door,  they  did  not 
progress  as  fast  as  they  should.  Their  emotion  more  than  the  difficulty  of  ad 
vancing  in  the  dark,  had  delayed  them.  Before  sallying  out,  the  robber  thought 
to  quiet  his  companion  with  a  warm  salute  and  a  cheering  word  or  two.  This 
occupation  was  so  pleasant,  that  his  caution  was  so  lulled  and  he  did  not  hear 
the  following  low-spoken  sentences  without: 

"  S'pose  it  tain't,"  said  one  man  of  nearly  a  dozen  who  stood  in  the  street 
beside  the  door  of  the  house. 

"  Oh,  shut  up,  old  Careful.  I  tell  you  it  was  Three-fingered  Jack  who  went 
in  here  and  that  proves  the  old  woman  is  not  lying.  Joaquin  must  be  in.  So 
use  your  shooters,  I  say.  You  can't  hit  an  honest  man  in  their  s'ciety ;  I  guess 
not !  'Sh  !  ready,  boys  !" 

The  instant  Valenzuela  opened  the  door  and  stepped  out,  three  or  four  pair 
of  hands  lunged  at  him,  and  they  got  a  good  hold  of  him  before  he  could  shake 
off  his  surprise. 

He  struggled  then,  but  to  shake  off  their  grasp  was  a  less  easy  feat. 

Furious  at  having  fallen  so  blindly  into  a  trap,  he  fought  as  only  a  madman 
might  have  been  expected  to  do,  or  a  sane  man  whose  head  was  doomed  to  the 
halter. 

He  bit,  struck,  kicked,  butted  and  plunged  about  in  the  ring  of  the  dozen 
men,  who  had  already  secured  his  weapons. 

"  Give  in,  you  dod-rotted  gopher  !     The  woman's  sold  you  !" 

"  She !  the  b— " 

"  No,  no  !"  screamed  Laura,  who  had  seen  all  this  occur  in  a  twinkling  while 
unseen  herself  and  nailed  to  the  spot  by  surprise  and  terror.  "  And  I'll 
prove  I  was  true  to  you,  Joaquin !" 

When  a  man  lies  dying  of  wound  or  illness,  the  woman  who  little  liked  him 
before,  has  been  known  to  love  him  then  ;  when  he,  unthought  of  before,  has 


86  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Dnval  of  California}  / 

been  about  to  perish,  the  woman  has  suddenly  been  exalted  from  a  passing 
whim  to  a  do-all,  dare-all  passion. 

So  with  Laura. 

Gay  woman  as  she  was,  who  had  determined  secretly  to  sell  her  plaything 
for  blood-money  when  it  should  become  tiresome,  yet  here,  with  her  own  idea 
embodied  under  her  eyes,  she  hated  the  too-truthful  assertion  in  one  sense, 
though  unfounded  in  another. 

Like  a  lioness,  she  burst  into  the  centre  of  the  group  and  frantically  smote 
and  tore  at  the  faces  of  the  men. 

Their  astonishment  aided  her  purpose,  and,  panting,  bleeding  a  little,  ex 
hausted  for  the  moment,  Valenzuela  stood  comparatively  free. 

He  caught  his  breath  instantly,  and  wrenched  himself  from  the  hands  yet  on 
him  ;  true,  they  were  benumbed  by  the  very  tenacity  of  their  hold. 

Then,  as  if  winged,  ignobly  forgetting  her  who  had  dashed  in  to  save  him,  he 
sped  up  the  street  towards  the  end  from  which  no  one  was  running  up,  as  there 
was  from  the  other. 

Out  flashed  all  the  fire-arms  and  the  whole  group  hurried  after  him,  scarcely 
seeing,  such  was  their  desire  to  secure  "  Joaquin,"  that  Laura  ran  amongst 
them,  striking  aside  this  weapon,  and  that,  as  she  saw  them  leveled  at  the  fugi 
tive. 

She  felt  her  strength  failing  her ;  she  made  a  great  effort,  for  all  the  men  had 
stopped  for  the  same  fatal  purpose,  and  darted  in  advance  of  them. 

She  flung  herself  straight  in  front  of  all  the  barrels  and  opened  her  arms  to 
embrace  their  missiles  like  Winkelried  sweeping  in  the  tyrant's  spears. 

A  rattle  of  twelve  to  twenty  shots  was  followed  by  a  mocking  cheer  from 
the  fugitive  bandit  vanishing  unhurt,  and  by  a  many-voiced  ejaculation  from 
the  marksmen  as  the  smoke  curled  upwards  and  showed  them  a  white  figure, 
spotted  with  red  blots  growing  larger  momentarily,  stretched  on  the  ground 
»t  their  feet. 

******* 

"What's  the  news,  fellows?"  said  a  new  comer  from  down  the  river,  as  he 
slung  his  leg  over  his  horse's  neck  and  dismounted  to  saunter  into  the  first  sa 
loon,  next  morning. 

"  News  !  the  hugest  thing  yet !  what'll  you  take  ?"  asked  the  bar-tender,  who 
was  missing  his  own  morning  call. 

"  The  black  bottle,  you  know  !  quit  your  joking,  Joe  !" 

"  Why,  you  know  Shorty  the  twistified  banker  of  Hannegan's  ?" 

"I  should  think  it !  The  side-show  *  walk  in,  ladees  V  gen'i'men  V  see  the 
smallest  living  man  in  the  world,'  as  I  allers  said  he  was.  Many's  the  '  slug' 
his  table  swallowed  of  mine.  Somebody's  'leaded'  him  for  thumbing  a  jack1?" 

"  Oh,  no  !  steel.  Why,  Joaquin  and  Three-fingered  Jack  had  their  gang  in 
town  last  night  about  eleven,  broke  into  the  dwarfs  house,  where  he's  been 
keeping  art  all-fired  beauty  that  would  make  Lola  dim  beside  her — a  rosebud  in 
full  bloom  and  a  lee  tie  more,  they  say !  knifed  him  and  a  cook  and  an  old 
woman,  had  a  fight  with  a  crowd  of  volunteers  and  Constable  Talbert,  and  got 
off  on  the  Di'mons'  Spring'  road  safe,  on'y  that  the  beauty  was  shot  in  a  dozen 
places.  Go  down  to  the  court-house  and  some  of  the  boys  you  know  will  let 
yer  see  lier — worth  it,  I  tell  you,  tho'  I  ain't  been." 

And  this  is  the  story,  which  we  have  truly  told. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

LYING  IN  WAIT. STOPPING  THE    STAGE. THE  CHIEF  GAME  NOT  BAGGED, 

SOME  time  after  the  failure  to  assassinate  Mr.  Fairgrove,  on  arrival  at  Dia 
mond  Spring,  near  Hangtown,  Joaquin  was  informed  by  one  of  his  associates 


Or,    The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  87 

who  kept  in  the  first  named  place  a  dunce-house,  that,  on  the  following  morn 
ing,  the  stage  between  Hangtown  and  Sacramento  would  carry,  besides  the 
mail  and  several  passengers,  a  rather  large  sum  of  gold-dust  destined  for  the 
EavSt,  via  San  Francisco. 

During  the  opening  months  of  his  profession,  Murieta  had  tried  his  hand  at 
stopping  a  stage  running  to  or  from  Mokelumne  ;  but  the  insignificant  result 
obtained  had  disgusted  him  from  that  Dick  Turpin  line  of  his  calling,  and  he 
had  preferred  to  increase  his  gains  in  a  different  manner. 

Still,  he  did  not  deem  it  proper  to  reject  the  intelligence  given  to  him  and  he 
resolved  at  all  hazards  to  make  himself  master  of  the  Hangtown  conveyance. 
Forty  thousand  dollars,  for  so  went  the  report,  was  not  a  sum  to  be  sneezed  at; 
he  wanted  no  greater  one  to  be  enabled  to  gain  Mexico,  enrol  the  forces  of  which 
he  stood  11;  need,  and  enter  upon  the  brilliant  plan  which  he  had  formed  of 
sacking  the  lower  provinces. 

He  took  Valenzuela  and  Three-fingered  Jack  into  his  confidence  and  acquaint 
ed  them  with  the  intention  he  had  of  attacking  the  vehicle :  they,  eager  more 
over  to  wipe  out  their  last  defeat,  had  only  been  waiting  for  some  new  chance. 

That  very  evening  they  went  out  along  the  road  to  choose  a  site  for  the  am 
bush. 

After  having  slowly  proceeded  through  almost  the  whole  night,  the  three, 
Mexicans  stopped  at  length,  in  an  isolated  spot,  covered  with  lihick  bushes  and 
stunted  trees,  situated  about  half  way  between  Mississippi  Bar  and  White 
Rock  House.  Joaquin  posted  his  two  men  on  the  left  of  the  road,  behind  a 
hedge  of  briars  and  wild  vegetation  but  near  the  roadside,  while  he  took  up  a 
similarly  concealed  stand  on  the  right. 

Two  hours  of  anxious  watch  crept  slowly  on,  and  already  in  the  east  were 
the  first  streakings  of  dawn  appearing,  and  yet  there  had  been  no  signs  of  the 
expected  prey. 

The  chief  had  had  it  from  a  sure  source  that  it  was  to  have  set  out  from 
Hangtown  between  one  and  two  of  the  morning,  and  yet  here  it  was  half  after 
six. 

He  doubted  ;  his  informant  must  have  been  mistaken. 

He  crossed  the  road  to  his  followers,  almost  decided  to  turn  back  to  Diamond 
Springs  and  run  the  risk  of  meeting  the  stage  in  some  other  place. 

Valenzuela  and  Garcia,  their  horses'  noses  rubbing  and  they  themselves  as 
comfortably  settled  in  the  saddle  as  possible,  were  smoking  as  they  patiently 
let  time  pass. 

Seeing  them  so  easy,  Murieta  thought  to  wait  for  another  hour.  But,  at  the 
end  of  fifteen  minutes,  Three-fingered  Jack  drew  his  revolver  and  began  cap 
ping  it. 

"  Here  it  comes  !"  exclaimed  he. 

"  Yes,"  said  Joaquin,  "  I  hear  the  wheels.  A  few  words  before  it  comes  up. 
I  was  so  busy  with  other  matters  until  now  that  I  forgot  to  tell  you  what  to 
do." 

"  Why,  Santa  Maria !"  said  Jack,  "  there  ain't  two  ways  of  killing  the  goose. 
Pistol  'em  all  and  search  for " 

"  Silence  !"  broke  in  the  highwayman.  "  Hark  to  me  :  at  the  first  signal, 
dart  out  and  take  each  a  side  of  the  stage,  while  I'll  stop  the  horses.  I  don't 
want  a  single  cap  snapped  till  my  order  says  so — mind  that,  Jack  !  You  un 
derstand,  friends  ?" 

"  Perfectly,  senor,"  rejoined  Valenzuela,  politely  bowing. 

"  AH  right,"  growled  Garcia,  "  only  I  can't  say  I  like  the  idea " 

"  Ready  !     No  more.     Remember  !" 

And  as  the  grating  and  grinding  sound  of  the  wheels  grew  louder,  the  captain 
crossed  to  his  place  of  concealment.  In  five  minutes  afterwards,  the  object  of 


88  Joaquin,  (the    Claude  Duval  of  California)  • 

their  ambush,  appeared  round  a  turn  in  the  highway.  It  was  drawji  by  four 
horses,  who  went  at  a  gallop,  seeming  to  be  inspired  by  the  fresh  early  air  that 
they  drank  in  with  open  nostrils. 

In  another  minute,  all  were  abreast  of  the  hidden  highwaymen.  Suddenly  a 
peculiar  cry  arose. 

Joaquin  shot  out  from  the  side  of  the  road  and,  with  a  leveled  pistol,  whose 
bright  steel  barrel  glittered  in  the  grey  light,  commanded  the  halt  in  a  most 
menacing  voice.  At  the  same  time,  Valenzuela  and  Three-fingered  Jack  made 
their  appearance  and  dashed  up  to  the  doorways. 

The  latter  held  his  pistol  so  unpleasantly  near  the  occupants  that  they  shrank 
over  to  the  other  side  against  their  companions,  who  were  recoiling  likewise 
from  Valenzuela,  and  were  half  dead  with  terror  at  the  Mexican's  horrible  im 
precations. 

The  driver  ,  on  seeing  Murieta,  had  drawn  back  and  pulled  up  his  four-in- 
hand.  He  had  seen  at  first  blush  that  it  was  useless  to  attempt  to  dash  past, 
and  he  could  remark,  or  rather  had  remarked,  that  Joaquin  did  not  handle  his 
revolver  like  a  man  unused  to  weapons. 

As  soon  as  the  stoppage  had  been  completed,  the  chief  exchanged  his  position 
for  Valenzuela's  and  took  upon  himself  the  delicate  occupation  of  forcing  the 
victims  to  "  deliver." 

"  Now,  geiitlfimen,"  said  he,  looking  in  on  the  travelers,  more  dead  thac 
alive,  "  hand  out  that  box  and  be  quick,  for  I  have  no  time  to  lose.  Come, 
make  haste !" 

"  Yes  caramba,  make  haste,"  echoed  Garcia,  ferociously,  "  or  I'll  make  pepper- 
bottle-tops  out  of  your  heads  !" 

"  Bu — but,  mister  highway — ay —  Mister  Mexican,  I  mean —  don't  be  so 
quick,"  stammered  a  fat  Englishman  filling  out  a  great  deal  of  the  back  seat  and 
trying  to  ward  off  the  revolver  which  Jack  kept  obstinately  pointed  at  his  ear. 
"  By  George,  there  hain't  h'any  baux  heah,  I  assure  yaar !" 

"  We'd  chuck  it  out  mighty  quick,  if  there  was,"  said  somebody  else. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  chorussed  the  other  travelers,  "  there  isn't  any  box  whatever, 
large  or  small,"  repeated  they,  drawing  in  against  one  another,  till  they  were 
like  red  herrings  in  a  case,  from  the  ominous  sextuple  muzzles  of  the  revolver. 

"  Driver,  where's  the  dust  you're  taking  to  Sacramento1?"  demanded  Joaquin, 
furiously. 

"  There's  not  a  grain  of  gold,  sir,  in  the  coach.  Yesterday,  we  carried  a  big 
iron-bound  chest  to  Sacramento,  but  this  trip,  nary  box." 

"I'll  see,  first,  and  if  your'e  lying,  look  out.!" 

"  I'll  be  d — d  if  you'll  find  any,  hunt  as  you  like,  sir,"  said  the  driver. 

Joaquin  flung  open  the  door,  while  Jack  did  the  same  on  the  other  side,  and 
cried : 

"  Out  of  this,  every  one  of  you  !" 

The  order  was  quickly  executed. 

Two  of  those  on  Garcia's  side  made  a  little  delay,  when  he  caught  one  by  the 
collar  and  pulled  him  through  in  so  unceremonious  a  fashion  that  the  other 
leaped  out  as  lightly  as  a  dancer. 

The  last  was  a  young  woman,  of  Mexican  origin  no  doubt,  who  had  not  been 
noticed  before  by  the  chief. 

She  threw  back  her  shawl  and  held  out  to  him  a  little  crucifix  of  gold  set 
with  diamonds,  which  he,  after  having  taken  and  examined  it,  returned  with 
some  compliment  quite  in  the  ancient  highwaymen's  vein. 

After  having  minutely  examined  the  interior,  without  having  been  able  to 
discover  anything  whatever,  Joaquin  climbed  upon  the  roof  and  looked  at  the 
boot  but  there  was  no  treasure  there  unless  the  ends  of  useless  whip-lashes  and 
spare  buckles  and  straps  are,  accounted  precious. 

So  Murieta,  cursing  his  ill  fortune,  ordered    the   travelers  to    retake   their 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  8iJ 

places,  after  paying  him  for  their  trouble,  and  called  off  Valenzuela  as  a  token 
of  his  permission  being  given  to  the  driver  to  go  ahead. 

He  let  out  his  \vhip,  and  off  went  the  four  horses  at  a  gallant  pace. 

Three-fingered  Jack,  on  hearing  the  order  and  seeing  the  stage  started,  wheeled 
and  sent  a  couple  of  bullets  over  the  top  of  the  dust-enveloped  vehicle  at  the 
head  of  the  driver,  who  was  not  touched  luckily. 

With  angry  look  and  gesture,  the  captain  commanded  the  treacherous  mis 
creant  to  put  up  his  weapon,  or  else  he  would  slay  him  on  the  spot. 

"  He  ought  to  have  carried  the  box  of  gold  to-day  !"  growled  Jack,  as  if  he 
were  stating  a  most  conclusive  reason  for  his  action. 

Joaquin  could  not  help  laughing. 

The  thref  hastened  back  to  Diamond  Springs,  to  the  house  of  their  friend, 
whose  ears  were  gratified  by  an  account  of  the  exploit  and  his  eyes  by  the  sight 
of  the  preuy  well-filled  pocket-books  and  money-belts  which  had  been  taken 
from  the  travelers. 

For  a  whole  week,  the  highwaymen  dwelt  in  concealment  in  their  friend's 
house  and,  when  the  noise  caused  by  the  stopping  of  the  stage  had  diminished, 
they  mounted  their  horses,  which  had  been  kept  in  a  sure  place,  and  directed 
their  steps  still  again  to  Sonora  Pass. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE     FIVE    FRENCH. ARKANSAW    TURNS    UP     AGAIN. CHINESE. THE     BEAR     AND 

THE    BATHERS. GARCIA    AND    THE    GRIZZLY. THE    HUNT. 

A  SHORT  time  after  their  departure  from  Diamond  Spring  the  chief  and  his 
comrades  established  a  temporary  camp  on  the  northern  branch  of  the  Stanis 
laus  River. 

The  place  had  appeared  to  them  on  the  previous  evening  to  be  utterly  apart 
from  human  habitation. 

But,  when  they  arose  at  the  break  of  dawn  they  were  surprised  to  behold  at 
a  little  distance  an  encampment  of  several  men,  who  were  guessed  correctly  to 
be  French. 

The  latter  did  not  suspect  in  the  least  what  undesirable  neighbors  they  had, 
and  were  quite  ignorant  of  the  true  trade  of  the  new-comers. 

When  the  latter  appeared  before  them  and  asked  them  what  was  their  busi 
ness  in  so  out-of-the-way  a  place,  they  answered  without  any  hesitation  that 
they  were  gold-seekers. 

"  So  are  we,"  remarked  Joaquin,  "  we're  gold-seekers  and  are  very  eager  to 
make  a  raise  of  the  dust,  if  it  is  possible  hereabouts." 

"  Ah,  but  it  is  ver'  possible,"  replied  the  apparent  principal  of  the  party. 
"  The  place  is  excellent,  gold  here  abounds.  But,"  added  he  in  his  best  Eng 
lish,  "  you  have  not  of  outils — vat  you  name — ah  !  too-els  for  to  work  ?" 

"  Oh  !  you're  a  little  out  there — we  are  well  supplied ;  but  are  you  sure  the 
diggings  pay "?" 

"  Perfectly  !  Believeey-vous  that  four  or  five  men  like  us  would  muse  our 
selves  in  working  for  nothig  ?  No,  no  !  We  have  found  what  you  call  some 
good  deegin's,  and  we  are  well  decided  to  dwell  the  longest  time  possible  in 
this  gran-n-nd  raypubleek !" 

"  You  are  likely  to  dwell  in  it  longer  than  you  fancy,"  said  Joaquin,  suddenly 
drawing  his  revolver  ;  "  but  you  won't  live  in  it  long  enough  to  improve  your 
excellent  English,"  added  he,  while  his  companions  displayed  their  weapons, 
"  unless  you  turn  over  to  us  every  particle  you  possess !" 

"  Holy  heaven  !  name  of  a  saint !  mon  Dieu  Lord  !"  ejaculated  the  Gauls. 


90  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California}; 

On  seeing  the  menacing  attitude  of  the  Mexicans,  they  could  not  hope  for 
joke  to  be  before  them.     Four  of  the  five  ran  to  their  tents  and  re-appeared  the 
next  moment,  revolver  in  hand,  but,  before  they  had  time  to  take  aim,  Jack, 
Three-fingers  and  Valenzuela  had  fired  two  or  three  shots  a-piece  and  slain 
them. 

The  'last  of  the  unfortunates  entreated  mercy,  but,  hardly  had  he  given  up 
several  pounds  of  gold  dust,  the  fruits  of  long  toil,  than  he  was  killed  pitilessly 
like  his  fellows. 

As  unconcernedly  as  possible,  the  murderers  sat  down  to  the  breakfast  of  the 
Frenchmen,  whose  blood  had  scarcely  ceased  to  flow. 

While  they  were  thus  busied,  they  were  abruptly  interrupted,  by  a  loud 
shout. 

They  looked  straight  before  them  and  beheld,  on  the  other  bank  of  the 
stream,  ten  men,  all  on  horseback,  and  armed  with  revolvers  and  rifles,  the 
foremost  of  them  being  the  everlasting  Arkansaw." 

"  That  Yankee  again !"  exclaimed  Joaquin,  on  foot  at  the  moment.  "  Quick, 
quick,  to  horse !" 

Jack  growled  like  a  dog  from  whom  a  bone  was  being  taken,  and  was  only 
quickened  in  his  movements  by  two  bullets  buzzing  near  him  and  a  third  dent 
ing  a  tin  plate  which  he  was  just  about  reaching  for. 

He  flew  into  the  saddle  like  the  others,  at  that,  cursing  the  Americans  IL 
general  and  "  Arkansaw  and  his  crowd"  in  particular. 

"  Caramba !  to  spoil  a  man's  meal,"  grumbled  he.  "  Here's  the  time  tt 
wait  for  them  and  pitch  into  them." 

"  Of  course,  it  is,"  said  Murieta  sarcastically,  "  when  they  are  three  to  one 
and  with  rifles,  too.  I  tell  you,  you  may  look  upon  yourself  as  very  well  off 
that  they  haven't  done  for  one  or  two  of  us,  as  it  is.  Fools  for  having  given 


us  warning !" 


"  There  they  are  crossing  the  stream.  They'll  be  over  soon.  Push  on,"  said 
Valenzuela. 

He  plied  the  spurs  simultaneously  and  placed  himself  so  as  to  cover  his 
chief,  while  Garcia  galloped  on  in  the  rear,  enraged  at  having  to  turn  his  back 
on  the  hated  foe. 

Hardly  had  they  gained  the  summit  of  the  nearest  eminence,  than  they  came 
upon  a  couple  of  Chinese  who  were  carry  ng  their  mining  implements  on  their 
shoulders  and  were  without  other  weapons  than  a  couple  of  U.  S.  cavalry  sa 
bres,  condemned  and  probably  sold  to  them  cheap  at  San  Francisco,  or  bought 
on  the  way  from  a  deserting  soldier. 

Three-fingered  Jack  flung  himself  off  his  horse  and  on  them  not  only  poig- 
narding  them  but  cutting  off,  their  heads  which  he  slung  by  the  hair  towards  the 
pursuers. 

Five  miles  further  on,  other  Chinese  were  met,  and  the  same  act  was  each 
time  repeated,  so  that  seven  heads  and  seven  trunks  were  passed  by  the  Amer 
icans,  almost  witnesses  of  the  crimes  without  power  to  prevent  them. 

During  four  days,  the  bandits  continued  to  fly  until,  after  the  chasers  were 
propably  shaken  off  they  made  for  Sonora  Pass. 

On  the  last  of  another  four-and-twenty  hours,  they  reached  the  head-quarters. 

They  dismounted  without  announcing  their  return  by  the  signal  agreed  upon, 
and,  while  Jack  led  the  horses  to.  water  to  the  neighboring  pond,  Joaquin  and 
Valenzuela  advanced  towards  the  camp.  When  at  the  first  tent,  they  halted 
and  saw  three  of  their  comrades  deep  in  the  mysteries  of  the  fifty-two  leaves  of 
the  Satanic  prayer-book. 

They  were  so  absorbed  in  their  games  that  they  did  not  in  the  least  notice 
the  comirg  of  their  officers. 

"  This  is  nice  !"  said  Joaquin  sternly,  "  immense  resistance  you  could  offer 
the  Yankees,  I  don't  think  !" 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Nines.  01 

Immediately  the  players,  dropping  their  "  hands,"  like  sleepers  suddenly 
awakened,  sprang  to  their  feet  and  drew  their  revolvers,  and,  seeing  whom  thev 
were  that  they  had  to  do  with,  they  tried  to  laugh  it  off,  and  wished  their  su 
periors  a  hearty  welcome. 

"  Carajo  !"  said  one,  "  the  devil  fly  away  with  me  if  I  didn't  think  the  Yankees 
had  the  camp !" 

"  Which  they  might  easily  do,"  rejoined  Joaquin,  looking  around  on  the 
whole  camp,  then  quite  deserted ;  "  yes,  without  the  least  difficulty,  with  all 
possible  ease.  Where  are  the  men?" 

"  Out  a  hunting  grizzly." 

"  Are  the  ladies  hunting,  too  ?" 

"  Oh,  no,  captain.  They  strolled  off  towards  the  rivulet,  and  are  under  some 
tree,  I  suppose." 

"  Very  well ;  I  will  go  myself  and  see  what  has  become  of  them.  Stay  here, 
Valenzuela,  and  if  the  men  come  back  before  I  do,  put  some  of  them  on  guard 
on  every  point  where  you  may  think  a  sentry  is  needed.  Those  cursed  fellows 
are  fully  capable  of  not  being  thrown  off  our  trail,  for  all  our  trouble,  and  pop 
ping  in  upon  us  of  a  sudden." 

"  That  is  to  be  feared,  senor,"  said  Valenzuela,  "  and  we  must  prevent  their 
kind  visit,  for  the  sake  of  the  senoritas,  at  any  rate.  In  case  the  rest  of  the 
boys  are  not  back  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  I  will  put  these  three  here  on  the 
point  furthest  west  of  the  mountains  and  go  myself  to  attend  to  the  pass." 

Joaquin  approved  of  this  idea,  and,  trusting  all  to  the  lieutenant,  sauntered 
off  to  find  the  girls. 

On  coming  to  the  pond,  while  keeping  himself  behind  a  clump  of  saplings, 
he  perceived  them  merrily  bathing  under  the  shade  of  some  trees,  hanging  on 
to  the  pendant  branches  and  gracefully  swimming. 

As  th^y  were  not  unaware  that  the  men  might  pass  by  at  any  time,  they  had 
taken  the  precaution,  in  remembrance  of  past  shamefulness,  to  attire  themselves 
in  habits,  which  prevented  the  eavesdropper  from  a  treat  as  delightful  as  that 
of  years  ago  in  which  Clarina  and  himself  were  the  respective  entertainer  and 
entertained. 

In  the  woods,  there  was  only  a  gentle  murmur  broken  now  and  anon  by  the 
whizzing  of  a  fly-catcher's  wings,  or  the  "\\hit-er-wheel"  of  a  quail. 

Joaquin  was  waiting,  calculating  the  effect  which  he  would  produce  by  an  un 
expected  presence  among  the  bathers,  enjoying  their  alarm  and  confusion  in  an 
ticipation,  when  a  piercing  scream,  preceding  many  othois,  came  upon  his  ear. 

Hardly  had  he  heard  the  first,  seemingly  uttered  by  Clarina,  than  he  sprang 
out  of  his  covert ;  but  the  danger  was  passed  already. 

He  only  rushed  upon  the  spot  to  see  Three-fingered  Jack  plunging  his  knife 
into  the  belly  of  a  gdbd  sized  grizzly. 

Jack,  after  tending  to  the  horses,  had  left  the  harness  on  the  ground  and  laid 
down  in  the  bushes,  not  far  from  the  sheet  of  water  in  which  the  robbers'  naiads 
were  disporting. 

Calmer  than  usual  and  affected  more  deeply  than  he  would  have  supposed 
possible  by  the  peacefulness  round  about,  he  fell  off  into  a  half  slumber,  dream, 
ing  while  he  dozed. 

His  thoughts  turned  back  to  many  years  before  when  he  had  been  young  and 
unused  to  crime. 

His  remembrances  of  a  woman  whom  he  had  loved,  had  a  stamp  put  upon 
them  by  his  hearing  faintly  a  clear  sweet  voice  of  a  woman. 

It  awoke  him  and,  still  half-roused  only,  he  staggered  out  of  the  thicket, 
when  a  scream  made  him  fully  conscious  and  led  him  to  save  from  the  clutches 
of  the  bear  the  mistress  of  his  chief. 

On  beholding  the  animal,  he  had  thrown  himself  between  it  and  the  flying 


92  haqmn,  (the  ClaudeDuval  of  California)  ; 

woman,  and  fin/y  his  blanket  over  its  head,  following  up  the  momentary  check 
by  savage  staffs  ;  he  was  dealing  the  last  stroke  when  his  captain  appeared. 

Clarma  w*^s  following  her  companions,  who  were  fleeing  in  all  haste  from 
the  scene  of  terror,  but,  at  the  sight  of  her  lover,  she  stopped,  turned  and  ran 
to  throw  herself  into  his  arms,  explaining  to  him  all  that  had  happened. 

Jooauin,  without  even  thinking  of  asking  how  the  brave  rescuer  had  chanced 
m  bft  there  so  opportunely,  shook  his  hand,  still  wet  with  blood  as  it  was,  and 
*nd  warmly  expressed  his  gratitude. 

"  Garcia,"  said  he,  "  you  have  saved  a  life  dear  to  me.  I  am  made  your 
debtor  henceforth  by  that ;  I  am  your  devoted  friend,  remember." 

For  the  first  time  during  many  long  years,  a  smile  lit  up  the  face,  impassi- 
ole  and  almost  always  ferocious,  of  Three-fingered  Jack,  the  merciless  bandit 
who,  under  jthe  flimsy  cloak  of  revenging  the  death  of  his  mistress,  had  com 
mitted  no  end  of  horrible  crimes. 

"  It's  nothing  to  tumble  over  a  bear,"  he  said.  "  No  use  making  a  fuss 
ibout  it.  And  anyhow,  if  I  did  save  the  senorita  from  harm,  it  was  more  than 
anything  else  from  my  thinking  of  another." 

"  Another  what  ?" 

"  Woman.  What  will  you  say  when  I  tell  you  that  my  presence  here  was 
from  a  dream  of  the  past." 

As  soon  as  the  speech  was  uttered,  without  adding  another  syllable,  he 
turned  his  back  unceremoniously  on  the  bandit  chief  and  his  mistress,  and  dived 
into  the  shade. 

'*  Garcia  in  love,  a's  he  seems  to  mean  !"  exclaimed  Joaquin,  in  spite  of  him 
self.  "  Really,  if  he  had  not  just  now  rendered  me  a  service  beyond  value,  I 
would  be  temped  to  make  him  the  laughing  stock  of  the  whole  band." 

"  Perhaps,  "  said  Clarina,  "  his  speech  contains  some  mystery  of  which  we 
know  nothing.  He  seemed  to  be  referring  to  the  pastj  mentioning  the«mernory 
of  a  woman." 

"  At  all  events,  there  is  something  strange  in  it,"  concluded  the  captain,  "  but 
he  is  not  soap 'or  sugar  to  melt.  Come,  we  must  return  to  camp — unless  you 
prefer  to  visit  a  certain  tree " 

"  Tree,  Joaquin  ?" 

"  Why,  yes,  dear  Clarina.  Oh,  dont't  you  fancy  that  I  haven't  yet  seen  the 
pretty  little  bower  you  have  tastefully  formed  since  I've  been  away.  The 
canopy  of  creepers,  the  flowers  on  the  sides,  our  initials  woven  with  evergreen 
in  a  garland — I  know  all.  I  was  not  back  twenty  minutes  before  love  guided 
me  to  the  spot." 

"  So  I  lose  the  pleasure  of  surprising  you.  But  you  do  not — ah  !  holy 
Mother,  what's  that  ?" 

A  dull  crash,  made  by  some  heavy  body  in  motion  thorough  the  chapparal, 
sounded  out  near  the  couple.  An  instant  after,  another  bear,  but  smaller  than 
the  former  one,  rattled  with  his  claws  on  the  carpet  of  rotten  twigs  and  leaves 
past  Joaquin  and  his  mistress.  As  the  former  tried  to  shake  off  Clarina,  who 
clung  to  him  tenaciously,  half  a  dozen  of  the  desperadoes  burst  through  the 
brush  at  very  nearly  the  same  time,  weapon  in  hand,  hurrah'd  on  by  Manuel 
Guerra. 

"  Halt !"  cried  he,  on  perceiving  his  superior. 

The  robbers  obeyed  and,  no  less  astonished  than  joyous,  pressed  around  to 
welcome  him. 

"  You've  made  short-work  of  our  bruin,  captain,"  remarked  Guerra,  indicat 
ing  the  carcase  of  the  grizzly. 

"  No,  no,"  answered  Joaquin.  "  That  is  not  your  fellow — it  is  some  of 
Three-fingered  Jack's  hunting." 

"  Caramba !"  swore  the  lieutenant,  "  so  3urs  has  escaped  1  I  thought  we  had 
him  sure  when  I  saw  this  one." 


Or,    The  Marauder  of  the  Mir..,  W 

At  the  same  moment,  twenty  or  thirty  detonations  &t.  >ed  around  in  the 
underwood.  Joaquin  and  those  who  had  met  him  hurried  to  the  camp,  where 
all  were  united  in  four  or  five  minutes,  for  the  remainder  of  the  hunters  had 
slain  the  second  grizzly  in  the  very  heart  of  the  head-quarters. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

RETURN    OF    THE    RAVAGERS. AN    ORQIE. SEVALIO    NEARLY  HANGED. 

TOWARDS  the  evening  of  this  day,  so  gloriously  marked  by  the  killing  of  the 
two  bears,  Valenzuela  and  the  three  men  who  held  the  outposts,  came  into  camp. 
Behind  them  marched  about  fifty  of  their  companions,  who  had  been  separately 
marauding  in  different  parts  of  the  State.  The  commander  of  each  detachment 
gave  over  to  the  chief  an  account  and  the  product  of  each  expedition  ;  the  amount 
of  the  whole  plunder  went  as  high  as  a  thousand  ounces  of  gold.  While  the 
new-comers  related  to  their  friends  what  they  had  done,  the  first  who  had 
arrived  made  everything  ready  for  a  grand  feast,  which  was  to  end  in  a  general 
fandango. 

The  great  fire  was  kindled  in  the  centre  of  the  encampment,  for  the  roasting 
of  the  grizzlies  slain  so  opportunely.  This  was  to  be  the  chief  dish,  plenty  of 
provisions,  brought  by  the  robbers,  was  to  supply  the  other  demands.  Ere 
long  the  cooks  announced  supper  to  be  ready. 

A  truce  was  declared  to  conversation,  and  all  took  their  places.  The  feast 
was  not  let  cool,  for  everybody  had  had  their  appetite  whetted  by  the  various 
emotions  of  the  day.  After  that,  cigarettes  and  favorite  drinks  of  the  Mexi 
cans  went  the  round,  and  attention  was  given  to  the  stories  of  such  of  the  crew 
as  could  rattle  off  a  relation  of  adventures,  highway  or  amorous.  When  almost 
all  subjects  had  been  exhausted  which  could  interest  the  assemblage,  Joaquin 
turned  towards  Antonio,  who  had  been  rather  silent  since  the  commencement, 
and  he  begged  him  to  say  something. 

"  Heaven  knows,  my  friends,"  said  Antonio,  flinging  away  the  end  of  a  cigar, 
"  that  it  is  utterly  impossible  for  me  to  recount  my  experiences  for  the  last 
quarter  of  an  hour  even,  seeing  that  my  head  is  full  as  an  egg  of  visions  of  griz 
zly  bear.  I  was  almost  asleep  and  actually  dreamed  of  one  of  the  monsters  being 
about  to  let  me  have  a  left  hander  with  those  sweet  teeth  he  carries  out  of  fun  at 
the  end  of  his  feet !  Thank  you,  captain,  for  awaking  me.  However,  if  such  a 
thing  as  a  song  poorly  sung  can  replace  the  story  1  am  called  upon  to  give,  I 
will  be  happy  to  be  agreeable  to  you,  besides  it's  driving  the  bear  from » my 
mind." 

"  Yes,  yes,  a  song !"  exclaimed  several  voices. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  speak  for  ?"  inquired  Antonio.  "  The  Castle  of  Saint 
Anna,  or  the  Serenade  of  Mount  Sierra  1  or —  " 

"  Give  us  '  Our  land  of  lands  is  Mexico,'  "  said  Valenzuela. 

"  Willingly;  but  you  must  take  care  and  join  in  the  chorus  lustily.  Ii's  a 
jolly  good  bit,  which  Padre  Jurata  preferred  to  anything  else,  and  he  had  a 
good  ear  for  hymns  ;  but  it  is  not  much  unless  the  chorus  is  sung  heartily." 

"  Enough,  friend.     Fire  away  !" 

After  the  usual  coughs  to  clear  his  throat,  Antonio  plunged  feelingly  into  the 
following  ballad  to  the  air  <  f  "  The  Pretty  Maid  of  Monterey :" 

OUR  LAND  OF  LANDS  IS  MEXICO. 

Gay  and  free  hunters 

Of  men  and  of  gold, 
Our  arms  are  right  strong, 


94  Joa-quin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

Our  hearts  true  and  bold  ; 
O'er  prairies,  through  woods, 

Up  mountain,  down  vale  : 
Our  horses  our  ships, 

Oh !  swiftly  we  sail ! 

CHORUS. 

They  shudder  in  placers, 

A  cloud  shades  the  land, 
The  miners  pale  to  see  us — 

The  Mexican  Band ! 

• 

Our  bullets  drive  deep 

In  Englishmen's  heurts, 
The  French  of  our  knives 

Feel  the  blade's  sharp  parts  ; 
The  Yankee  swings  high 

By  lasso  from  branch, 
The  light  in  his  eyes 

The  flames  of  his  ranch  1 

They  shudder,  &c. 

Pleasure  or  peril 

To  either  we  run, 
We  fight  or  we  sport, 

By  star  or  by  sun, 
When  the  angel  us'  bells, 

On  the  cool  night  sing, 
We  gather  the  spoils 

And  dance  in  the  ring. 

They  shudder  in  placers, 
For  blood  stains  the  sand, 

While  rejoices  with  spoil 
The  Mexican  Band ! 

"  Yes,  yes,"  cried  Antonio,  "  we  are  the  Mexican  Band,  and  we  will  be  still 
more  worthy  of  the  name  when  our  captain  is  enabled  to  begin  his  plan.  Long 
life  to  Mexico  !  the  land  of  the  Cactus  forever !  it's  the  only  place  in  all  crea 
tion,  my  lads,  except  Spain  and  Italy,  where  one  can  pass  at  ease  through  a 
really  pleasant  existence." 

"  Why,  have  you  ever  seen  those  countries  1"  inquired  Valenzuela. 

"  Both,  certainly,"  was  Antonio's  reply.  "  I  was  born  in  Madrid,  to  begin 
with,  and  as  for  Italy,  I  may  boast  that  I  wasn't  the  worst  brigand  in  the  party 
that  followed  the  goat-skin  jacket  of  the  celebrated  Carlotti !" 

"  Hullo  !  did  you  know  Giovanni  Carlotti  T'  exclaimed  Guerra. 

"  A  little.  Signor  Giovanni  Carlotti,  the  grandson  of  the  one  who  was 
secorid  of  the  world-known  Captain  Alesandro  Massaroni.  But,  comrades,  I 
will  relate  my  history  some  other  day,  I  am  out  of  breath  for  the  present." 

"  Here,  Antonio,"  said  Joaquin,  pouring  out  from  a  bottle  near  him  some 
splendid  wine,  which  California  with  its  universal  climate,  promises  to  equal 
some  day ;  "  take  a  sip  of  this  to  refresh  your  mellifluous  throat !  Fill  up, 
every  man  of  you,  and  let  us  drink  to  the  memory  of  brave  Mazzaroni,  the 
valiant  captain  who  said  : 

"  Short  and  wise  is  our  motto  :  Let  money  be  the  first  of  all  things.  Cow 
ardice  alone  is  a  crime.  For  the  rest,  let  every  mother's  son  of  .you  do  what 
you  please.  Time's  like  a  bird  which  is  off  on  the  wing  and  cannot  be  retained 
or  pulled  back.  It  is  easy  for  one  to  console  himself  if  haste  is  made  to  enjoy 
what  he  has." 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  95 

Loud  acclamation  greeted  the  chiefs  speech  ;  the  glasses  chinked  merrily, 
and  the  toast  to  one  of  the  prides  of  the  Italian  highway  was  uproariously 
quaffed  by  these  rangers  of  El  Dorado. 

"  Hush !"  said  Joaquin  suddenly  ;  "  I  thought  I  heard  a  signal." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  returned  Valenzuela.  "There  are  some  of  our  comrades  returned, 
and  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  it  was  Sevalio's  call,  wasn't  it,  Margarita  ?  Before 
ten  minutes  passes  over  our  heads,  you  will  have  your  lover  by  your  side." 

"  I  can't  tell,"  answered  the  Mexican  girl;  "you  appear  to  know  the  signal 
better  than  I." 

The  chief  pulled  out  of  his  breast  a  silver  whistle  -which  he  put  to  his  lips. 

A  piercing  sound  vibrated  around. 

Some  few  minutes  afterwards,  the  feasters  saw  Sevalio  appear,  followed  by 
two  more  men,  who  led  their  horses  by  the  bridle. 

The  three  were  so  broken  by  fatigue  that  anybody  would  have  taken  them 
from  their  dragging  gait,  to  have  been  patients  fresh  discharged  from  a  hospital. 

Joaquin  went  to  meet  them,  with  Antonio  and  Valenzuela,  while  the  whole 
band  rose  to  bid  them  welcome  and  to  make  room  for  them  by  the  fire. 

"  What  news,  Sevalio  ?"  inquired  the  bandit  leader,  when  the  lieutenant  and 
his  men  were  seated. 

"  Stay,  captain,  stay  !  And,  comrades,  pass  us  some  wine  quick,  for  we  are 
half  dead !" 

Five  or  six  bottles  were  instantly  handed  to  the  new-comers,  and  truth 
obliges  us  to  state  that  they  took  more  than  was  good  for  them. 

"  Now,  captain,"  said  Sevalio,  encircling  with  one  arm  the  waist  of  his  mis 
tress,  who  had  come  to  sit  beside  him,  "  now  I  am  ready  to  answer  you,  but  I 
must  open  fire  by  announcing  that  my  tidings  are  bad.  I  think  even  that  it 
would  be  as  well  to  put  them  off  till  to-morrow,  if  'you  don't  want  to  becloud 
the  merry-making." 

"  No,  no,"  replied  the  commander,  "  we  must  know  this  evening,  uncertainty 
is  never  agreeable.  Tell  us  all  that  has  happened  to  you.  I  see  that  you  bring 
back  only  two  out  of  the  whole  company  of  nine  that  you  started  off  with. 
Are  the  rest  dead  ?" 

"  Alas,  yes.     Dead  and  buried,  I  hope." 

«  How  ?" 

"  Two  fell  in  fair  fight ;  the  others " 

"  Go  on,  the  other  five " 

"  Were  hanged  !  strung  up  like  jerked  beef.  Dangling  on  trees  !  curse  trees! 
Another  bottle,  comrades.  Let  me  drink  down  the  remembrance  of  the  scene. 
I  think  I  feel  the  rope  round  my  neck  yet !" 

"  W'hat !  around  your  neck  1"  queried  Joaquin. 

"  Around  my  neck,  and  the  slip  noose  was  drawn  d — nably  tight,  as  they 
dragged  me  along  to  the  tree,  when  I  got  my  hands  loose,  I  can't  tell  how,  and 
streaked  for  the  bush  where  these  two  friends  were  hid,  and  away  we  went  with 
half  a  hundred  bullets  flying  around  us.  Caramba  !  the  Yankees  are  more  sav 
age  than  Apaches,  they're  h —  when  quiet,  but  when  irritated,  stand  from 
under  !  More  wine,  boys  !  Holy  Cross,  these  Yankees  don't  do  things  by 
half  generally,  and  I'm  glad  I  am  the  exception.  They  won't  even  be  satisfied 
with  what  would  be  enough  for  others.  When  hanging  is  the  work,  they  want 
to  run  a  man  up  higher  than  any  other  people  in  the  world  would  think  of 
doing.  I  suppose  I  am  left  to  avenge  my  poor  strangled  friends." 

"  It  is  to  be  hoped,"  was  the  general  opinion. 

"  Where  did  the  bad  luck  befal  you  ?"  asked  Guerra. 

"  At  the  branch  of  the  Rio  de  las  Plumas,  Feather  River,  just  fifteen  miles 
from  Spanish  Peak.  There  was  a  company  of  miners  there,  from  eighty  to  » 
hundred,  whom  I'll  go  bail  for  being  the  roughest  savages  in  the  state.  You 
ought  to  have  seen  how  they  were  armed,  real  walking  batteries,  carajo  \ 


36  Joaquin,   (the  ClaudeDuval  of  California); 

Every  one  of  them  had  three  or  four  pistols  or  revolvers,  a  rifle  and  a  knife  as 
big  as  a  machete." 

"  Well,"  interposed  Antonio,  "  now  that  you  have  told  us  how  the  affair  fin 
ished,  we  won't  be  sorry  to  learn  how  it  commenced." 

"  I'm  willing ;  here  it  is,"  said  Sevalio. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

SEVALIO'S    ADVENTURES. THE    ATTACK. ARKANSAw's    DEFEAT. RANGING     THE 

BATTLE-FIELD. RIVALRY. 

"  A  FEW  days  after  we  quitted  Red  Bluffs,"  said  Sevalio,  who  was  at  his 
fourth  bottle,  "  we  reached  Shasta,  were  we  had  the  luck  of  meeting  a  train  of 
mules  carrying  gold.  We  stopped  it  a  couple  of  miles  from  the  town,  took  the 
treasure  and  the  back  trail  to  Red  Bluffs,  each  of  us  carrying  twelve  pounds  of 
the  spoil.  You  may  believe  that  we  did  not  let  the  grass  grow  under  our  feet 
on  the  road  to  head-quarters. 

"  The  men  whose  goods  we  had  taken  were  miners  and  we  expected  on  that 
account  to  be  pursued  very  quickly. 

"  As  we  were  finishing  supper  in  Pedro's  eating-house  and  about  to  be  off, 
Pedro  warned  us  that  we  were  watched  and  that  if  we  did  not  make  haste  to 
flee  without  being  seen,  we  would  run  the  risk  of  being  handed  if  only  by  sus 
picion. 

"  There  was  nothing  tempting  in  such  a  prospect,  and  we  hurried  to  clear  off, 
but  separately  and  in  different  directions,  our  general  rendezvous  to  be  Oro- 
ville. 

"  A  numerous  set  of  Germans,  French  and  Yankees  were  at  our  heels,  and  we 
only  gave  them  the  slip  at  Downieville.  To  make  up  for  that,  we  gave  chase 
to  four  Americans  in  the  valley  of  Lake  Wey,  and,  catching  them  there,  we 
left  them  life  in  exchange  for  their  money. 

"  It  was  in  returning  from  the  lake  that  we  were  attacked  by  the  Feather 
River  miners. 

"  Two  of  our  men  were  slain  outright,  while  the  enemy  had  five  knocked 
over. 

"  My  two  here  and  myself  got  off,  as  you  know. 

"  We  remained  three  days  in  the  brush,  eating  and  drinking  nothing  for  the 
very  reason  that  we  were  out  of  all  necessaries,  and  then  we  risked  going  out 
to  make  for  Sonora  Pass.  Ten  miles  or  so  out  of  Downieville,  we  buried  the 
gold,  ran  off  a  horse  a-piece  and — and  here  we  are." 

"  There  is  nothing  very  gay  in  that  report,"  observed  Joaquin ;  "  but  we 
must  expect  to  turn  up  a  low  card  once  in  a  while.  Pass  around  the  bottle, 
comrades,  and  let's  have  a  lively  time  of  it,  while  we  may." 

"  Yes,  yes,  captain,  you  are  right,"  said  Sevalio,  "  1  agree  with  you  there. 
Lopez,  my  friend,  let's  have  a  bottle  or  two,  for,  by  all  the  saints  and  saintessea 
in  paradise,  Tin  weak  as  water  yet !  The  gallop  along  the  precipices  does  play 
a  man  out,  I  tell  you  !" 

"  Along  the  precipices,"  echoed  Antonio.     "  Did  you  lose  the  way  ?" 

"  Not  at  all,  but  we  took  the  worst  way  by  the  highlands  to  give  the  pursuers 
a  bellyful  of  rackriding." 

"  So  you  were  chased,  eh?     Come,  Sevalio,  explain  in  the  fiend's  name." 

"  What,  didn't  I  tell  you  all  about  it  ?  The  Yankees  were  behind  us  when 
we  dashed  through  the  pass  by  Lake  Mono;  they  rushed  us  into  the  mountains 
and  when  we  threw  them  off  the  track,  I  don't  believe  they  were  more  than  five 
mile*  from  us." 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  97 

"  The  duece !"  exclaimed  the  chief,  springing  instantly  to  his  feet,  "  this  is 
serious.  If  only  that  little  bit  divided  you,  they'll  only'  need  the  glimmer  of 
3ur  big  fire  here  to  show  them  the  rest  of  the  road." 

"  Hush!"  interrupted  Valenzuela  suddenly,  "  that  sound  can  be  only  spurs 
jingling  on  the  rocks  !  Still  1" 

All  listened. 

"  1  hear,  too,"  said  Murieta,  drawing  his  revolver.  "  Up,  comrades,  lo 
arms  !  Antonio  !  take  thirty  or  forty  men  and  place  them  on  the  rocks  com 
manding  the  left  side  of  the  pass.  I'll  see  to  the  right  with  the  rest.  Come  on, 
men,  but  softly,  for  we  must  not  leave  one  of  the  spoil-sports  to  tell  the  tale." 

The  bandits,  faithful  to  the  recommendation  just  given,  followed  their  re 
spective  leaders  and  noiselessly  ascended  the  piles  of  stone  overlooking  the  en 
trance. 

Each  did  his  best  to  hide  his  advance  by  the  ruggedness  of  the  ground. 

Meanwhile,  the  sound  of  steps  approaching  became  more  and  more  distinct. 

Every  now  and  then,  there  was  to  be  heard  a  savage  imprecation  of  some  *f 
the  storming  party,  who  hud  stumbled  or  slipped  on  the  moss. 

They  came  into  view  but  slowly  on  account  of  the  labor  required  by  the  ad 
vance. 

About  twenty  feet  below  the  place  where  Joaquin  awaited,  the  tall,  stalwarth 
form  of  Arkansaw  rose  up,  leading  no  less  than  forty  rough-looking  men,  armed 
to  the  teeth. 

"  Deuce  take  me  if  I  fancy  this  location  !"  growled  Arkansaw. 

He  had  barely  spoken  than  from  every  split  in  the  rocky  \vall  before  them, 
a  jet  of  lire  issued  and  the  air  was  filled  with  smoke  and  shook  with  the  crash 
of  sixty  or  seventy  shots. 

Half  that  number  of  the  assailants  dropped  dead,  or  fell  back  desperately 
injured. 

"  Up,  up  the  rock !"  cried  Arkansaw,  whose  hat  had  been  blown  heaven  knows 
where  j  "  away  you  go !  hands  and  teeth  !  It's  the  only  chance,  boys —  close 
in!" 

The  survivors  did  begin  to  climb  up  the  rampart  sheltering  the  banditti,  but 
the  one  or  two  who  did  contrive  to  mount  pretty  high,  had  only  the  greater 
distance  to  fall. 

A  second  discharge  no  less  deadly  than  the  former,  made  the  wall  tremble 
and  down  dropped  the  attacking  party,  dying  or  dead.  Some  of  the  robbers 
ran  instantly  to  camp  and  returned  with  torches. 

Then  the  scene  appeared  in  all  its  horror. 

Nothing  could  be  more  frightful  than  the  livid  countenances  illumined  by  the 
flickering  and  ruddy  glare  of  the  resinous  brands. 

Joaquin  himself  could  not  remain  long  before  such  a  sight,  he  hastened  aw&y 
to  see  no  more  of  the  awful  eyes,  staring  in  death. 

His  men  who  were  less  impressionable,  removed  the  valuables  and  weapons 
of  the  defeated,  while  taking  heed  to  finish  those  who  still  breathed. 

The  most  indefatigable  Tn  this  latter  task  was  the  vindictive  Sevalio,  who 
seemed  to  have  conceived  the  idea  of  out-heroding  Three-fingered  Jack. 

The  latter,  as  if  that  idea  had  struck  him,  kept  watching  him  all  the  time ; 
his  piercing  sight,  rendered  more  horrible  than  usual  by  an  accompanying 
smile  of  hideoasness,  followed  every  movement  of  his  companion ;  Jack 
seemed  to  be  finding  pleasure  in  seeing  the  latter  cutting  off  the  heads  of  the 
corpses  oj1  churning  his  dagger  in  the  bodies. 

"  By  the  soul  of  Padre  J  urata,"  swore  Garcia,  "  this  night  you've  robbed  me 
of  half  my  fun,  Senor  Sevalio,  but  it  doesn't  matter  so  long  as  you  do  not  be 
come  too  formidable  a  rival.  When  that  happens,  look  out  for  snakes,  old 
fellow  !" 

As  he  swung  in  air  his  flambeau  to  make  it  burn  better,  the  light  flooded 


98  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

both  their  faces,  while  Jack  darted  on  Sevalio  a  glance,  half  in  sardonic  sport 
half  in  earnest,  before  he  went  off  to  examine  more  of  the  fallen  with  the  eager 
ness  of  hunting  up  an  acquaintance. 

All  the  other  desperadoes  had  gone  back  to  the  encampment,  so  that  Garcia 
was  alone  in  his  blood-thirstiness  on  the  battle-field. 

Holding  the  torch  in  one  hand  and  in  the  other  his  knife,  he  tranquilly  pur 
sued  his  scrutiny  lowering  the  light  every  few  moments  to  take  a  closer  look 
at  a  blood-bespattered  visage,  when  a  noise  made  him  glance  around  and  see 
Sevalio  once  more. 

"  Oh,  you  is  it  ?"  growled  Jack.  "  I  thought  it  was  a  grizzly  who  had  smelt 
out  the  banquet." 

"  What  keeps  you  here  ?"  inquired  the  other,  with  a  grin. 

"  Somebody  not  to  be  found,  I'm  afraid." 

"Whom?" 

"  Why,  the  leader  of  these  fools  who  ran  their  heads  into  the  lions'  jaws.  If 
he's  got  off  this  time,  I'll  have  to  believe  the  devil  is  his  friend." 

"  The  leader  of  these  cursed  Yankees  is  a  prisoner  in  the  camp,  along  with 
one  other." 

"  Caramba  !  who  went  and  spared  him  ?" 

"  Murieta ;  and  I  came  to  tell  you  he  wants  to  see  you  first  thing." 

"  Oh,  ho  !  come  along  !  I'm  impatient  to  see  the  rough  customer,  who  shan't 
slip  me  this  time  as  before." 

When  the  two  returned  to  the  gathering,  they  found  the  whole  band  seated 
around  the  fires  which  had  been  raked  together  and  made  again,  and  rejoicing 
over  the  victory  so  easily  purchased. 

Wine  was  circulating  anew  and  the  drinkers  were  more  untiring  in  disposing 
of  libations  than  beftfre. 

The  two  prisoners,  bound  tightly  with  the  red  silk  sashes  of  their  captors, 
were  lying  on  the  ground,  talking  together  most  bitingly  of  their  conquerors 
and  paying  no  attention  to  frequent  threats  for  them  to  "  dry  up  ;"  they  were 
trying  to  hasten  their  execution. 

"  Friend  Garcia,"  began  Joaquin,  as  soon  as  the  three-fingered  butcher  had 
thrown  himself  down  at  ease  on  the  grass,  "  I  want  you  and  Sevalio  to  draw 
lots  to  see  who  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  killing  one  of  these  two." 

"  Which— the  chief?"  asked  Jack  eagerly. 

"  No ;  the  other.     I  mean  to  keep  the  principal  for  a  few  days." 

"  But  he  may  escape,"  pleaded  the  Mexican  ;  "  I  may  as  well  drive  the  nail 
into  his  chest !" 

All  laughed,  while  the  speaker  drew  out  his  knife,  only  half  cleaned,  and 
fixed  his  fiery  gaze  on  his  enemy. 

"  Ha,  ha  !"  cried  Arkansaw  tauntingly,  "  who's  a-scart  ?  You  dassent  give 
a  man  a  fair  sight !  Bah,  you  dirty  yellow-bellies,  you  greasers  of  Satan's 
kitchen,  I'll  take  any  three,  any  five  of  you  together  !  There  !  pah,  you  coward 
ly  mongrels !" 

"  No !"  thundered  Joaquin,  as  Garcia  offered  to  spring  upon  the  defier,  "  I 
say  *  no  !'  I  have  my  reasons  for  sparing  him ;  you  must  wait." 

"  Very  well,  I'll  be  satisfied  with  him.  Let  Sevalio  have  his  own  way  with 
the  other.  I  don't  feel  that  way  inclined  just  now,  anyhow." 

A  low  gasp  was  audible.  Sevalio  had  drawn  his  knife  across  the  throat  of 
Arkansaw 's  companion. 

"  A  simple  matter,"  remarked  the  slaughterer,  returning  to  sit  beside  Garcia 
and  halve  a  bottle  with  him. 

"  Very  simple,  indeed,"  added  Valenzuela ;  "  nothing  could  be  more  simple, 
but  it  was  done  with  a  relish  that  friend  Jack  must  appreciate." 

"  Now,  comrades,"  cried  Antonio   suddenly,  "  let's   have   one   song  more. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  99 

Why,  we're  all  as  stupid  as  gophers  in  the  sierra's  snow.  Are  you  asleep, 
every  one  of  you  f ' 

The  lieutenant's  desire  was  not  answered. 

The  copious  draughts  which  the  human  casks  had  poured  into  themselves  had 
taken  the  wits  out  of  all  heads,  and  four-fifths  of  the  troop  were  sound  asleep. 
The  rest  were  not  slow  to  follow  the  example,  and  the  feast  terminated  in  a 
chorus  of  snoring  which  the  Seven  Sleepers  of  Ephesus  might  have  envied. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 


TEN  o'clock  in  the  morning  had  scarcely  come,  when  Joaquin  aroused  his 
men,  and  ordered  them  to  strike  tents  and  break  up  camp. 

Although  surprised  at  the  sudden  resolution  and  very  much  preferring  a  day's 
rest  to  activity,  all  obeyed  without  hesitation  and,  before  the  sun  had  marked 
noon,  the  whole  band  was  leaving  Mono  Lake  behind  and  proceeding  toward 
Sonora  Pass. 

Arkansaw  was  not  with  the  troop. 

An  hour  or  so  before  the  departure,  Three-fingered  Jack,  who  could  not  let 
the  first  opportunity  for  revenge  pass  by,  had  slain,  without  a  word  to  anybody 
the  man  who  had  promised  to  defeat  him  in  the  previous  contest. 

Joaquin  gave  no  token  of  having  noticed  his  lieutenant's  cold-blooded  act,  for 
what  could  be  done,  short  of  death,  to  a  man  so  dreadfully  cruel  1  He  pre 
ferred  to  say  nothing,  and  feigned  to  have  forgotten  the  prisoner. 

In  any  event,  he  was  not  very  much  distressed  at  what  had  happened,  though 
he  had  reserved  the  captive  for  a  peculiar  tit-bit  in  the  way  of  torture  :  he 
meant  to  make  him,  after  the  Indian  style,  a  living  target  for  his  men. 

On  corning  to  the  south  fork  of  the  Tuolumne  River,  Murieta  formed  his 
troop  into  detachments  of  twelve  or  fifteen,  which  were  to  go  to  Arroyo  Can- 
tuva  by  different  routes. 

He  himself,  leaving  the  females  to  the  charge  of  Antonio  and  Guerra,  selected 
fifteen  stout  fellows  and  took  the  road  for  Coulterville,  by  the  south-east. 

On  the  way  from  Don  Pedro  Bar  to  Snelling's,  he  fell  in  with  three  French 
men,  two  Germans  and  as  many  Americans,  who  were  driving  pack-mules 
laden  with  provisions,  blankets  and  mining  tools. 

He  did  not  hesitate  to  stop  them  and,  while  his  gang  stood  ready  by  his  side 
to  shoot  at  the  first  word,  he  strode  up  to  one  of  the  Frenchmen,  who  did  not 
make  use  of  his  firearms,  took  him  by  the  collar  and  summoned  him  to  point 
out  where  the  money-bag  was  put. 

The  man  stammered  and  spoke  slowly  in  order  to  give  his  friends  the  time 
to  offer  resistance,  which  they  did  gallantly,  but  the  banditti  had  been  too 
quick  for  them  and  shot  the  three  principals  who  resisted  at  first  fire. 

Joaquin,  annoyed  at  opposition  being  shown  to  him,  flourished  his  dagger 
and  threatened  to  have  every  one  of  the  survivors'  throats  cut  if  they  did  not 
immediately  turn  over  their  gold  to  him. 

They  resigned  themselves  to  their  fate,  and,  drawing  from  under  the  blankets 
a  canvas  bag,  presented  it  to  the  captain,  assuring  him  that  it  was  the  sum  total 
of  all  their  exertions. 

The  contents  amounted  to  four  hundred  dollars. 

Murieta  continued  his  journey  thereupon,  despite  the  entreaties  of  Three-fin 
gered  Jack,  who  wanted  to  finish  the  German  and  the  French  left,  and  ordered 
the  latter  to  move  on  in  their  own  way. 


100  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Dvval  of  California")  ; 

They  did  not  require  a  renewal  of  the  command,  for  the  very  good  reason 
that,  if  the  highwayman  had  made  a  more  careful  examination  of  their  baggage 
— he  would  have  found  six  more  bags  just  like  the  one  he  had  taken,  containing 
in  all  about  five-and-t \venty  thousand  dollars  worth  of  gold  dust. 

After  this  robbery,  the  committera  of  it  crossed  the  Merced  River  at  Snel- 
ling's,  and  turned  to  the  east  to  gain  Mariposa.  A  couple  of  miles  from  Mount 
Ophir,  Joaquin  was  obliged  to  interfere  to  prevent  Three-fingered  Jack  from 
slaying  a  luckless  Chinese,  who  was  so  sick  and  poverty-stricken  that  the  ban 
dit  leader  was  thus  affected. 

In  a  few  hours  more,  they  entered  Mariposa,  two  by  two,  though,  for  other 
wise  suspicions  would  have  been  excited. 

They  stayed  there  a  week,  having  a  good  time  in  spending  the  booty  lately 
acquired.  Then,  they  left  the  place,  crossed  the  Mariposa  River,  and  the  Chow- 
chilla. 

At  ten  or  twelve  mijes  from  Coarse  Gold  Gulch,  four  Russian  miner*  were 
met  and  killed  and  robbed. 

Several  Indians,  who  had  witnessed  the  affair,  after  the  departure  of  those 
who  had  taken  the  lion's  share,  came  in  for  the  pickings  and  stripped  the 
corpses  of  their  garments. 

Being  found  some  time  afterwards  in  possession  of  the  goods,  they  were 
pointed  out  to  some  Russians,  friends  of  the  murdered,  and  made  to  expiate  the 
crime  of  Murieta  and  his  command. 

The  latter  had  already  gone  over  the  San  Joaquin,  about  twenty-five  miles 
above  Fort  Miller,  after  having  laid  over  for  two  or  three  days  at  an  Indian  vil 
lage  for  a  rest ;  thence,  once  again  on  the  march,  the  morning  of  the  third  day 
had  seen  them  at  Arroyo  Cantuva,  where  the  majority  of  their  fellows,  pre 
viously  arrived,  were  completing  the  putting  up  of  tents. 

Joaquin,  set  at  ease  by  Arkansaw's  death,  had  decided  to  dwell  once  more  in 
the  old  retreat,  more  commodious  and  safer  than  any  other. 

"When  all  was  settled  in  the  encampment,  the  plunderers  reposed  for  a  whole 
fortnight,  at  the  end  of  which  they  were  started  off  in  more  or  less  numerous 
bodies  and  with  varied  missions  to  perform. 

It  was  necesary  to  obtain  money  and  horses  somewhere  and  also  to  keep  the 
men  employed,  while  at  the  same  time  information  and  profit  were  procured. 

Chiefs  of  such  bands  of  marauders  are  often  placed  in  the  situation  of  the  well- 
known  lottery -player  who  drew  the  elephant ;  if  it  cannot  keep  itself,  good  bye 
to  any  peace  to  the  owner. 

When  all  the  divisions  were  off*  to  accomplish  their  instructions,  Joaquin  was 
left  with  only  a  dozen  men,  among  whom  figured  Antonio,  Sevalio  and  Guerra. 

Murieta  and  this  handful  spent  a  mouth  very  agreeably  in  eating,  drinking, 
sleeping,  smoking,  making  love  and  hunting  in  the  mountains. 

The  rainy  season  had  by  this  time  come  on,  which,  everywhere  unpleasant, 
was  peculiarly  so  in  the  highlands.  Here  the  captain  of  ravagers  decided  to 
take  the  field  in  person  and  find  a  site  favorable  for  the  execution  of  the  plans 
on  which  he  had  set  his  mind. 

Two  days  afterwards,  he  directed  his  steps  towards  the  north  of  the  state, 
accompanied  by  Sevalio,  who  was  to  show  him  the  gold  buried  by  him  and  his 
companions  on  the  bank  of  Feather  River. 

After  several  short  halts  at  Mariposa,  Sonora,  Murphy's,  Mokelurnne  Hill, 
Jackson,  Drytown,  Ragtown  and  Fiddletown,  the  leader  and  his  lieutenants 
arrived  at  Hangtown. 

They  opened  performances  by  the  unromantic  act  of  having  a  good  supper  in 
pne  of, the  eating-houses  ;  after  which  Sevalio  went  away  on  horseback  while  his 
master  entered  a  dance-house,  where  he  was  quickly  surrounded  by  some  pretty 
Chilian  girls,  belonging  to  the  establishment. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  101 

Joaquin  carried  himself  with  so  much  gracefulness  and  attractiveness  that  ho 
had  many  dances  with  the  charmers.  When  he  could  believe  that  he  had  the 
right  to  repose  a  bit,  he  went  and  sat  down  between  a  couple  of  the  frail  beauties 
and  chatted  on  all  the  topics  on  which  such  ignorant  hirelings  could  converse. 

The  sound  of  this  tri-alogue  and  the  laughter  of  the  women  very  soon  attract 
ed  the  attention  of  all  upon  the  three,  and  the  careless  Joaquin  recovered  some 
gravity  on  perceiving  that  he  was  examined  most  searchingly  by  some  Ameri 
cans,  who  seemed  to  be  keeping  the  door  intentionally. 

In  a  few  moments,  he  recognized  in  one  of  them  the  driver  of  the  stage  which 
he  had  stopped  near  White  Rock  House ;  for  the  man's  part,  the  astonishment 
depicted  on  every  one  of  his  features  at  such  fool- hardiness  proved  that  he  had 
known  the  highwayman  again. 

Without  "discovering,"  as  chess-language  does,  the  least  fear  or  even  mere 
uneasiness,  which  wrould  have  been  ruinous,  the  robber-king  rose  with  thf 
greatest  serenity,  wished  the  girls  a  good  night,  rolled  his  cloak  around  him  and 
went  out.  .At  the  door,  a  hand  lightly  touched  him. 

"  Excuse  me,  sir,  but  I'd  like  to  see  you,"  said  a  voice. 

Murieta  had  already  sprang  upon  his  horse,  which  had  been  left  tied  up  be 
fore  the  door  of  the  next  house. 

"  Well,  replied  he,"  mimicking  the  speaker,  "  you  do  see  me,  and  you  ought 
to  be  satisfied  with  having  seen  me  for  the  last  ten  minutes." 

And  away  his  spurred  horse  took  him  round  the  first  corner.  After  a  swift 
ride,  during  which  he  had  got  over  fifteen  miles,  he  reached  Junction  House 
where  he  put  up  his  steed  and  spent  the  whole  night,  supposing  with  reason 
that  no  chase  would  be  begun  of  him  before  morning. 

At  peep  of  day,  he  galloped  off  to  Taylor's  Ranch,  with  the  intention  of  trac 
ing  a  semi-circle  and  arriving  at  Fiddletown  in  time  to  meet  Sevalio. 

He  did  not  go  at  a  very  severe  pace  now,  for  he  reckoned  considerably  on 
the  confusion  which  would  be  among  the  Hangtowners.  He  was  passing  the 
ranch  when  he  heard  in  his  rear  the  hoofs  of  many  horses  and  caught  sight 
before  long  of  a  good  number  of  well-armed  horsemen  coming  after  him. 

The  one  first  look  was  all  that  was  required  to  inform  him  what  was  to  be 
expected. 

He  gave  the  reins  to  his  horse,  which  flew  away  as  with  wings  of  the  wind. 
The  pursuers  pressed  on,  with  many  an  oath  of  the  whites  and  many  a  whoop 
like  a  redskin,  but  in  this  race  the  Mexican,  born  in  the  saddle,  as  one  may 
say,  kept  his  lead.  Rejecting  his  first  idea,  Joaquin  turned  abruptly  towards 
the  south-east  and  entered  upon  the  mountainous  country,  very  certain  that 
there  the  followers  could  make  nothing  by  superior  speed,  at  least. 

The  treacherous  nature  of  the  soil  rendered  his  own  progress  more  difficult 
than  he  had  believed  at  first.  More  than  once,  in  toiling  up  excessively  steep 
ascents,  his  horse  had  gone  down  on  its  knees,  fortunately  lightly,  and  as  many 
times,  in  descending,  it  had  slid  along  on  its  drooped  haunches  from  its  hoofs 
slipping  and  ploughing  up  the  red  clay. 

At  the  base  of  one  of  the  hillocks  ran  a  rock-lined  gully,  in  the  depths  of 
which  rolled  a  little  torrent,  on  the  way  to  add  heaven  knows  what  incalculable 
treasures  in  its  foam  to  the  American  River. 

It  was  a  very  dangerous  place  for  the  best  cavalier  on  the  freshest  steed  to 
attempt  to  traverse  and  Murieta  hesitated  to  take  the  leap ;  but  seeing  the  fore- 
most  of  his  hunters  rising  on  the  top  of  the  butte,  only  a  hundred  yards  from 
him  at  the  most,  he  put  his  horse  to  it. 

The  next  instant,  he  was  across. 

A  narrow  escape,  nevertheless,  foi  his  horse,  which  had  missed  footing  OB 
touching  the  opposite  side,  staggered  on  the  very  brink,  damp  and  slippery,  and 
only  recovered  itself  by  an  efibrt  which  its  own  dread  supplied. 


102  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

The  leader  of  the  chasers  tried  to  follow,  but  his  animal  retused  the  leap,  and 
he  had  to  give  it  up,  as  spurs  and  even  a  stab  with  a  knife  could  not  overcome 
its  obstinacy. 

His  men  pulled  up  at  the  edge  and  fired  two  or  three  shots  a-piece  at  the  un 
harmed  and  disappearing  Marauder  of  the  Mines. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

THREE    OF    THE   RAVAGERS    RUBBED    OUT. JACK*S    ADVENTURE. HOSPITALITY    RE 

PAID. TREACHERY    REWARDED    AND    FOILED. 

OVER  mountain  and  valley  land,  Joaquin  continued  to  fly  until  he  could  feel 
confident  that  he  was  fully  out  of  danger. 

He  went  through  Carson's  Pass  and  on  the  fourth  day  came  to  a  miners1 
camp  on  Walker  River,  where  he  passed  the  night. 

But,  fearing  to  be  recognised,  he  started  at  daybreak,  and  by  the  same  time 
of  the  following  day,  came  upon  a  second  camp  which  he  fancied  belonged  to 
Indians. 

On  drawing  nearer,  he  found  himself,  to  his  great  surprise,  in  the  presence 
of  Valenzuela  and  Three-fingered  Jack,  who  no  more  than  he  expected  such  a 
meeting. 

While  breakfasting,  the  chief  learnt  from  them  the  result  of  their  peregrina 
tions,  and  how  they  had  chanced  to  be  at  the  same  spot  as  himself. 

On  quitting  the  Arroyo,  Valenzuela  had  led  his  company  to  Weaverville, 
conforming  in  that  to  the  orders  of  Joaquin.  Before  arriving  there,  he  had 
seized  some  horses  and  had  chosen  fifteen  of  his  men  to  conduct  them  to  the 
rally  ing-place. 

He  was  then  with  Garcia  and  four  others. 

Pursued  by  several  rancheroes,  the  servants  of  the  horse-owners,  the  six 
thieves  had  been  compelled  to  seek  safety  by  crossing,  by  swimming,  a  very 
rapid  stream.  Hit  and  disabled  by  bullets,  three  of  Valenzuela's  men  had  been 
drowned.  Castillo,  one  of  the  three  left,  had  managed  to  reach  the  opposite 
shore,  but  a  Missourian  had  saved  him  the  trouble  of  proceeding  any  consider 
able  distance  on  it,  by  sending  a  rifle  ball  at  him. 

In  brief  Valenzuela  and  Jack  were  the  only  ones  who  had  managed  to  escape. 

When  at  Weaverville,  Jack  had  wished  to  go  into  a  dance-house,  notwith 
standing  the  objections  of  the  prudent  Valenzuela. 

Four  men  standing  up  to  the  bar,  were  drinking  while  conversing  on  the  late 
horse-thefts.  One  of  them  had  expressed  his  opinion  that  Joaquin  was  no 
stranger  to  the  affair. 

"  To  see  him  and  his  rascals  at  the  end  of  the  ropes,"  said  he,  "  I'd  change 
my  head  for  a  balloon." 

Garcia  placed  himself  in  front  of  the  speaker  and  said  rudely  : 

"  For  a  pistol  ball,  loon  ?"  sneered  he,  "  do  you  mean  ?" 

"  Who  in  thunder  are  you  ?" 

"  If  you  know  how  to  count,  that  ought  to  satisfy  you,"  returned  the  Mexican, 
holding  up  his  mutilated  hand. 

"Three-fingered " 

ft  Jack — yes,  sir-ree !" 

And,  without  waiting  for  more,  the  speaker  drew  his  knife  and  plunged  it 
into  the  man's  breast. 

Three  or  four  hands  seized  him  and  he  and  Valenzuela  had  to  fight  their  way 
out. 

Their  horses  had  not  been  touched  fortunately  and  mounting  them,  they  con- 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  Ike  Mines. 


10? 


trived  to  drop  their  enemies  before  they  came  to  Beckworth's  Pass,  and  the 
place  where  they  had  just  met  their  superior. 

The  next  day,  the  three  Mexicans  pursued  the  road  to  Arroyo  Cantuva. 
They  crossed  the  Sonora  range  and  the  Tuolumne  at  the  south  fork. 

Dismounting  at  Rattlesnake  Bar,  they  entered  a  house  and  called  for  supper. 
It  was  occupied  by  an  old  man,  his  son  and  his  daughter.  The  three  Mexicans, 
armed  to  the  teeth,  surprised  them  somewhat,  but  they  said  nothing,  and  the 
meal  demanded  was  served  up  promptly  by  the  girl. 

Murieta,  who  was  something  of  the  gentleman  for  all  of  his  cut-throat  and 
robber's  exterior,  chatted  in  the  most  affable  manner  with  the  latter  while  she 
gracefully  waited  upon  him  and  his  comrades. 

The  old  man  remarked  with  suspicion  their  voracity,  but  kept  his  impres 
sions  to  himself. 

When  the  repast  was  over,  Valenzuela  rose,  advanced  towards  the  youth, 
who  had  remained  in  his  seat  by  the  fire-place,  and  taking  aim  at  him  with  his 
revolver,  asked  him  with  extreme  politeness  what  he  had  to  say  against  their 
sacking  the  house. 

"  If  you've  got  any  objections  to  make,  speak  quick,"  added  he,  cocking  his 
weapon  playfully. 

"  Scnor,  stay  !     I  didn't  know  you  were  robbers !"  began  the  old  man. 

He  commenced  to  make  such  an  outcry  that  Three-fingered  Jack  had  to  gag 
him. 

Of  course  the  youth  had  given  his  consent  to  the  inevitable  pillage,  and  the 
whole  dwelling  was  rummaged. 

Only  a  few  hundred  dollars  were  found. 

When  about  to -ride  into  Weavers vi lie,  Joaquin  reflected  that  the  impru 
dence  of  Garcia  might  bring  difficulties  upon  him  as  well  as  upon  Valenzuela, 
and  he  resolved  to  enter  the  town  alone. 

Consequently,  he  ordered  the  couple  to  hurry  on  in  company  to  the  rendez 
vous,  while  he  himself  would  remain  a  couple  of  days  in  the  residence  of  one  of 
the  members  of  the  band,  Juan  Berryessa. 

This  person  had  many  times  furnished  excellent  news,  to  members  of  the 
active  force,  and  at  several  other  periods  had  lent  them  money  and  horses. 

These  services  had  been  generously  rewarded  by  the  leader,  who  considered 
him  as  a  sincere  and  faithful  friend. 

He  was,  truth  to  say,  nothing  of  the  kind. 

Without  letting  it  appear,  Berryessa  had  sworn  and  felt  deadly  hatred  for 
Joaquin,  and  had  been  constantly  seeking  a  good  chance  to  give  him  up  to 
justice. 

At  this  very  moment,  believing  that  the  game  was  in  his  hands,  he  was  try 
ing  to  find  more  actively  than  ever  a  means  of  consummating  his  treachery. 

Three  or  four  days  had  elapsed  since  the  departure  of  Valenzuela  and  his 
mate. 

One  evening  when  Joaquin  was  visiting  the  fandangoes  in  hope  of  meeting 
some  friend  of  his,  he  perceived  by  accident  that  his  case  was  empty  of  its  re 
volver. 

He  fancied  that  the  weapon  had  fallen  out  and  that  he  had  mechanically  but 
toned  the  strap  over,  while  habit  and  the  certainty  of  the  cover  being  in  its 
place,  had  prevented  him  doubting  the  lightness. 

Immediately,  he  retraced  his  steps  to  seek  it. 

First,  he  looked  in  the  stable  beside  the  house  to  see  that  his  horse  was  not 
grudged  feed,  and  th^n  entered  by  the  back  door  a  little  room  adjoining  the 
kitchen,  which  had  b3en  given  to  him. 

While  he  was  advancing  in  the  dark  and  groping  for  his  candle  and  some 
matches,  he  heard  voices  in  conversation  in  the  next  chamber. 

One  of  these  was  an  American,  and  the  other,  quite  as  certainly,  his  host. 


104  Joaquin,  (the    Claude  Duval  of  California)  • 

In  any  other  circumstances,  Joaquin  would  have  taken  no  heed  of  this  fact, 
but  his  name,  distinctly  pronounced  by  both  of  the  dialoguists,  and  in  a  tone 
arguing  nothing  friendly,  set  him  on  the  alert. 

Though  the  idea  of  "  his  friend  "  conspiring  against  him.  had  something  too 
absurd  in  it  to  attract  him,  he  was  naturally  anxious  to  discover  the  why  and 
wherefore  of  the  utterance  of  his  name,  and  that  motive  appeared  sufficient  to 
induce  him  to  play  the  eavesdropper. 

He  crossed  the  kitchen  on  tip-toe,  and  glued  his  ear  to  the  board  partition 
separating  the  apartments. 

"  Yes,"  Berryessa  was  saying,  "  so  will  my  vengeance  be  satisfied,  tor  he  has 
mortally  offended  me  at  various  times,  either  here  or  in  Mexico.  Besides,  1 
want  money.  My  losses  at  'monte'  have  forced  me  to  sell  my  rancho  at  half 
its  value,  and — by  the  bye,  what's  the  figure  out  for  the  bandit  ?" 

"  Well,  I  can't  tell  kerzactly.  I  reckon  it's  goin'  on  five  thousand,  and  mebbe 
nearer  ten  thousand  dollars." 

"  Give  me  one  thousand  down  on  the  nail  to-morrow  morning,  and  you  shall 
have  him." 

"  But  are  you  right  down  airnest  sartin  that  it  is  him.  If  you  kin  swear  to 
it,  I  kin  git  the  sum  together  jess'  as  soon  as  you  say — it's  a  first  rate  spec. 
But  are  you  sure  V 

"  Why  shouldn't  I  be  ?  I've  known  him  a  little  too  long  to  be  mistaken 
there." 

"  Where  is  he  now  ?     You  say  a  few  miles  from  here — where's  that  ?" 

Joaquin  could  divine  that,  during  the  slight  pause  that  intervened,  Berryessa 
was  winking  knowingly. 

"  Cararnba !     Arn  I  a  greenhorn  ?" 

"  I  could  take  you  for  an  accomplice,  one  of  the  band,  and  have  you  lynched." 

"  Bah  !  you  haven't  any  proof  that  I  am  even  speaking  to  you  now  !" 

"  Very  well.  I  don't  keer  to  fall  out  with  you.  If  you're  willing  to  give 
him  over  to  us  to-night — " 

"  Hold  on  a  bit !  what  do  you  mean  by  us  ?" 

"  Jee-rusalem  !  do  you  s'pose  that  I  was  a  goin'  to  take  him  single-handed  ? 
Ha,  ha  !  No,  sir-ree,  Number  One  can't  do  everything.  There  will  be  three 
of  us,  and  I'll  get  one  of  rny  mates  who'll  fetch  along  the  money  you  want." 

"  All  right,  then.  That  settles  it.  You  pay  me  that  sum,  whether  he's  alive 
or  dead  ?" 

"  To  be  sure,  if  you  are  serious." 

"  I  am  more  serious  than  ever  before  in  my  life,  and  I  tell  you  that,  if  it 
haden't  been  for  my  bad  luck  at  cards,  I  would  have  asked  three  times  as  much. 
It's  no  child's  play,  1  warn  you." 

"  You  can't  skeer  me.     When  and  where  arc  we  to  tackle  him  ?" 

"  In  this  very  house,  and  in.  a  couple  of  hours,  provided  you  have  the  cash 
ready." 

"  Never  you /ear.  I  will  be  back  before  ten  minutes,  and  look  upon  Mister 
Walkin  as  walking  out  his  career  to-morrow.  Wait  for  me." 

On  these  words,  the  American  stalked  out,  closing  the  door  behind  him. 

In  another  second,  Murieta  sprang  into  the  room  like  a  wild  beast  and,  hi* 
dagger  out,  he  caught  Berryessa  by  the  throat,  petrifying  him  by  the  sudden 
appearance. 

"  Silence !"  hissed  he  when  the  other  tried  to  speak.  "  You  have  spoken 
your  last.  So,"  added  he,  after  a  few  moments  spent  in  tightening  his  hold  on 
the  wretch's  throat,  "  so  you  are  betraying  me  for  money,  and  to  be  revenged ! 
revenged!  for  what1?  Haven't  I  always  been  your  best  friend?  You  sell  me 
for  a  few  ounces  of  gold,  trying  to  make  the  buyer  believe  that  you  are  acting 
through  revenge.  Who  shall  I  trust  henceforth  ?  Those  who  like  you,  wretch, 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines. 


105 


have  hitherto  shown  themselves  true  and  devoted,  may  turn  on  me  anytime, 
and  give  me  up  to  those  who  want  to  deck  trees  with  me  and  my  comrades. 
And  you,  Berry essa,  act  this  way,  when  supposed  I  you  most  of  all  incapable  of 
such  falseness.  Die !" 

He  was  driving  his  knife  a  second  time  into  the  traitor's  breast  when,  the 
door  flying  open,  in  walked  the  partner  of  the  dying  man. 

He  understood  all,  and,  dropping  the  bag  of  gold,  he  grasped  his  revolver  in 
its  stead. 

"  Who  are  you  ?"  challenged  he. 

"  I'm  the  man  you  bought  at  that  price,"  replied  the  robber  pointing  to  the 
fallen  sack. 

"  Joaquin  ?     Surrender,  or  you're  a  dead  man  !" 

"  Very  likely,  only  life  for  life !  As  soon  as  you  fire,  I  am  on  you  with  my 
*nife." 

"  I  prefer  to  take  you  alive,  or  a  lot  I'd  let  you  do  with  your  steel.  You  had 
better  be  quick  about  it,  but  you  can't  escape  anyway.  Two  of  my  mates  will 
be  here  in  two  or  three  minutes.  I  wasn't  going  to  pay  this  man  you've  mur 
dered  so  much  money  without  witnesses." 

"  Murdered  ?  punished." 

"  It  doesn't  matter.     Down  with  your  dagger,  or  I  fire !" 

"  Fate's  against  me,"  said  Joaquin,  "  I  see  all's  up.  There,  take  my  only 
weapon  !  All  I  ask  is  for  you  to  give  me  up  to  the  authorities  and  not  to  the 
mob." 

"  I'm  quite  willing,"  said  to  the  other. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  moment  when  the  man,  who  was  too  full  of  fair-play 
himself  to  suspect  treachery,  lowered  his  fire-arm  and  extended  his  other  hand 
to  receive  the  weapon,  the  faithless  bandit  leaped  upon  him  like  a  panther, 
threw  him  to  the  floor  and  pinned  him  down  with  a  dagger-stroke;  then,  catch 
ing  up  the  revolver  and  uncocking  it  as  he  ran,  he  glided  through  his  room  and 
out  round  to  the  stable.  Merely  bitting  his  horse,  he  mounted  bareback  and 
galloped  away  at  the  very  moment  that  the  friends  of  the  slain  American 
entered  the  house  and  room  in  which  lay  the  two  dead  bargainers. 

Joaquin  was  scarcely  a  mile  beyond  Mariposa  when  all  the  people  were  in 
motion  and  many  horsemen  put  off  in  pursuit. 

But  they  exerted  themselves  all  in  vain  for  they  could  not  overtake  the  chief, 
especially  when  he  had  taken  to  the  mountains. 

Two  weeks  after  this  narrow  escape  from  the  Judas,  Murieta  arrived  at  the 
main  rendezvous,  where  he  found  collected  almost  all  who  were  ranked  under 
his  flag,  with  more  than  four  hundred  horses  which  they  had  run  off  from  differ 
ent  parts  of  the  state. 

The  captain  explained  the  cause  of  his  prolonged  absence  and  hurried  into  his 
tent  to  tell  Clarina  the  same  and  learn  from  her  whatever  information  of  past 
events  in  the  camp  that  she  might  have  to  impart  to  him. 

Among  other  pieces  of  news,  he  was  told  that  one  of  his  connections  at  San 
Luis  Obispo,  called  Texas  Jack  (who  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  a  rascal  of 
the  same  name  who  has  had  an  account  of  his  deserved  execution  mentioned 
already  by  us),  had  presented  himself  to  the  band  with  two  companions. 

These  latter  were  complete  strangers,  but  Jack  had  gone  surety  that  they 
were  meritorious  recruits.  They  had  been  out  horse.-stealing  when  they  had 
come  upon  the  head-quarters  by  chance. 

A  great  number  of  the  troop  had  been  on  the  point  of  kicking  them  out  as 
intruders,  and  even  of  killing  them  as  spies  ;  but  some  who  had  been  acquainted 
with  Jack  in  Lower  California,  placed  faith  in  his  assertion  and  so  warmly 
pleaded  his  cause  that  life  had  been  granted  them  until  the  commander  of  the 
desperadoes  should  have  returned. 


106  Joaqwn,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

On  learning  this,  Murieta  charged  Antonio  instantly  to  bring  the  piisoners 
oefore  him.  They  had  been  placed  under  a  strong  guard  in  a  tent  at  the  south 
eastern  end  of  the  Arroyo,  where  they  could  be  in  safety  but  not  be  mingling 
with  the  banditti  to  learn  valuable  secrets. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

TEXAS  JACK. GARCIA  JUDGES  AND  EXECUTES 

OF  THE  THREE  COUNTIES. A  PIECE  OF  BRAVADO. 

A  FEW  words  on  Texas  Jack,  an  arrant  knave. 

In  1836,  he  was  twelve  years  old.  His  father,  American,  went  off  in  the 
army  against  Mexico,  at  the  time  of  the  Battle  of  San  Jacinto. 

Jack  wanted  to  be  of  the  expedition,  but  was  refused  as  being  too  young. 
Desirous  to  prove,  like  another  and  inferior  Cid,  that  he  could  fight  as  well  as 
anybody  thrice  his  age,  he  picked  a  quarrel  with  an  Indian,  a  friend  of  his  father, 
killed  him,  cut  off  his  head  and  tossed  it  by  the  scalplock  at  his  fathsr's  feet, 
when  the  latter  had  done  chasing  Deserter  Riley's  gang  and  bestowing  leaden 
favors  on  guerillas. 

Texas  Jack  was  in  San  Francisco  in  '51,  in  company  with  the  Louisianian 
called  Indian  Fred,  Bill  Flanders,  an  ex-plug  ugly  of  Baltimore,  and  a  Mexican 
known  as  Monty,  abbreviation  of  Montezuma. 

These  four  had  with  them  a  number  of  horses  and  mules,  of  which  they  had 
relieved  the  rancheroes  in  the  valleys  of  San  Joaquin  and  San  Jose.  They 
corralled  these  in  a  yard  in  Mission  Street,  near  Primera  Street,  and  went  to  a 
tavern  near  the  old  police  station. 

In  this  house  lodged  several  policemen,  one  of  whom  was  sick  a-bed. 

From  his  room,  he  heard  and  recognized  the  voice  of  Indian  Fred. 

He  called  him  and  advised  him  to  leave  the  city  forthwith,  as  he  knew  of 
there  being  three  warrants  out  for  him  on  heavy  charges  of  theft  and  that,  over 
and  above  that,  he  was  looked  upon  as  the  principal  in  a  certain  murder  recent 
ly  committed  in  a  neighboring  county. 

Fred  informed  Texas  of  what  had  happened  to  him  and  set  out  for  Stockton, 
with  his  two  companions. 

Scarcely  were  they  gone  than  Jack  had  disposed  of  the  best  of  the  stolen 
cattle  to  the  hotel-keeper,  and  the  same  day  he  drove  them  all  to  the  public 
square  and  sold  them  at  auction,  a  deed  so  bold  that  it  was  successful. 

Then  he  went  off  some  fifteen  miles  on  the  Santa  Clara  Road,  entered  a  ranch 
where  the  hotel-keeper  had  had  his  new  purchase  taken,  stole  him  anew  and 
rode  off  with  him  to  the  Mission  of  San  Luis  Obispo. 

There  it  was  that  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Murieta  and  several  of  his 

:ng  in  a  house  of  ill  fame  kept  by  one  Victor  Lie  Nariss,  situated  between  the 
ission  and  the  place  where  the  coast  seamen  disembark. 

Texas  was  lucky  enough  on  a  certain  occasion  to  render  a  service  to  Joaquin 
by  furnishing  him  with  intelligence  of  some  of  his  pursuers,  and  the  bandit,  not 
to  be  behind  hand  in  generosity,  made  him  a  gift  of  a  magnificent  horse,  a  coun 
terpart,  except  in  sex  (for  mares  are  not  used  for  riding  by  Mexicans),  of  Dick 
Turpin's  famous  Black  Bess. 

In  the  course  of  his  adventures,  Jack  had  fallen  into  the  habit  of  sleeping, 
when  he  camped  alone,  with  his  head  between  the  fore-legs  of  his  intelligent 
steed. 

One  night,  while  he  was  resting,  near  Sari  Antonio  Creek,  he  was  suddenly 
awakened  by  his  horse,  which  was  pulling  his  hair  by  biting  it.  He  had  hardly 
opened  his  eyes  than  he  caught  sight  of  three  or  four  persons,  half  breeds  or 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  107 

Mexicans,  who  were  stealthily  approaching  him  with  the  evident  design  of  kill 
ing  or  robbing  him. 

Indeed,  he  had  barely  got  into  the  saddle  before  bullets  began  to  shower  upon 
him,  but  he  escaped,  while  the  horse  neighed  cunningly  as  if  he  rather  enjoyed 
the  outwitting  of  those  who  had  forgotten  that  thief  should  not  rifle  thief,  or  dog 
eat  dog. 

When  he  and  his  companions  were  led  before  Joaquin,  the  latter  agreed  that 
his  men  ha  J  been  right  in  sparing  them,  and  he  gave  them  their  permission  to 
go  their  way  immediately. 

Several  members  of  the  band  offered  objections  and  so  hotly  that  Murieta, 
for  fear  that  the  three  would  be  murdered,  deemed  it  proper  to  have  them 
escorted  by  Valenzuela,  Three-fingered  Jack  and  a  couple  more,  at  least  half 
way  to  the  San  Joaquin  River. 

This  party  had  left  the  camp  behind  by  some  sixteen  miles,  when  Garcia 
rushed  his  horse  up  to  one  of  the  three  and  deliberately  blew  his  brains  out 
with  a  point-blank  discharge.  On  seeing  this,  Texas  Jack  and  his  remaining 
comrade  clapped  spurs  to  their  horses  and  dashed  off  as  fast  as  possible  to 
escape  the  second  onslaught  of  Garcia. 

The  latter's  two  next  shots  disabled  and  unhorsed  Jack's  companion,  who 
however,  had  a  grapple  and?  a  fight  of  much  fierceness  with  the  assassin,  by 
which  delay,  Texas  got  off. 

Seeing  that  it  was  impossible  to  gain  ground  upon  him,  as  he  was  fifty  yards 
away  and  going  three  feet  to  his  t\vo,  the  Mexican  delivered  the  three  last  bar 
rels'  contents  on  the  fugitive  and,  pulling  up,  cried : 

"  Good  luck,  old  boy  !     Close  shave !" 

With  these  words,  he  returned  to  his  friends  who,  from  the  very  first  shot, 
had  dwelt  stupefied,  and  in  doubt  whether  to  act  for  or  against  the  prisoners. 

"  It's  a  pretty  piece  of  work  you've  done,"  said  Valenzuela,  "  but  I  suppose 
you  had  the  captain's  orders." 

"  Orders,"  returned  Garcia,  charging  his  six-shooter.  "I  don't  think  so.  No 
other  orders  than  you  got  yourself." 

"  What !  did  you  kill  those  men  on  your  own  responsibility  ?" 

"  Why,  yes,  Caramba  !  And  I'd  have  settled  the  third  only  he  'scaped  me, 
curse  him  !" 

"  What  did  you  do  it  for  ?"  inquired  Valenzuela.     "  It  was  useless." 

"  Useless  !  What  do  you  say  ?  useless  to  kill  Americans  ?  I  advise  you  to 
go  back  to  Mexico  and  turn  monk.  Don't  faint  at  blood-spilling.  1  suppose 
those  men  had  been  let  off—" 

"  Well  V1 

"  They  would  have  betrayed  us." 

"The  captain  did  not  think  so.  And,  as  it  is,  you  have  let  one  escape  and 
perhaps  made  an  enemy  of  him,  for,  though  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that 
he  has  always  been  our  friend,  he  will  believe  that  Joaquin  commanded  the 
treachery." 

"  Let  him  and  the  captain  and  you  believe  whatever  you  please,"  growled 
Jack.  "  I  care  as  little  for  one  as  for  the  other." 

On  the  return  to  camp,  good  care  was  taken  not  to  relate  what  had  happened 
on  the  road,  for  the  companions  of  Garcia  feared  their  chief's  wrath  and  they 
felt  that  they  would  be  considered  as  accomplices  for  not  having  prevented  the 
bloody  assassination. 

A  week  afterwards,  as  the  month  of  March,  1853,  opened,  a  series  of  brigand- 
iah  exploits  commenced,  which  thrilled  the  whole  country  with  terror  and  in 
dignation. 

The  outlaws  had  chosen  as  the  soat  of  their  operations  the  three  richest 
counties  of  the  Golden  Land,  to  wit:  El  Dorado  Calaveras  and  Tuolumne, 


108  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California}  ,* 

and  never  since  the  days  of  the  Free  Lances,  of  Alva  and  of  Wallenstein,  nad 
an  Eden  been  so  swiftly  and  completely  assailed. 

Detached  companies  of  four  or  five,  at  most  a  dozen,  had  been  scattered  all 
over  the  district  and  such  was  the  number,  the  variety  and  extent  of  their  dep 
redations  that  the  voice  of  Runner  could  not  enlarge  upon  them  and  we  cannot 
find  space  to  record  them. 

Ask  your  friends  who  were  in  California  then,  and  they  will  each  have  their 
brace  to  a  dozen  of  stories  to  tell,  we  warrant. 

Theft,  murder  as  atrocious  as  could  be,  fires  and  plundering  formed  the  sub 
ject  of  universal  conversation  and  of  much  fear.  Some  of  these  misdeeds  were 
committed  in  broadest  day,  others  were  shrouded  in  blackest  night,  but  every 
body  saw  in  them  the  mind  or  arm  of  Joaquin.  Though  the  numerous  lines 
and  circles  of  this  vast  and  complex  outbreak  were  greatly  divergent,  yet,  like 
a  cobweb,  they  all  were  connected  with  a  common  centre,  their  originator 
being  there  watching  the  result  of  his  weaving. 

There  was  scarcely  a  place  of  any  importance  in  the  state  which  was  not  una 
voidably  disgraced  by  one  or  two  of  his  secret  agents. 

There  rarely,  or  never,,  were  lacking  places  of  shelter  to  hide  wounded  and 
the  stolen  horses,  and  there  might  be  named  here  certain  farms,  kept  by  men 
then  quite  the  thing  for  honesty  and  respectability  in  the  eyes — too  often  misty 
and  webbed — of  the  world,  whereon  Joaquin  and  his  associates  found  help  in 
times  of  need. 

While  marauding  all  along  the  road,  Murieta  and  eight  of  his  braves  had 
come  upon  one  of  the  banks  of  theTuolumne  in  the  middle  of  one  of  the  March 
nights.  The  ferryboat  was  so  dextrously  fastened  to  its  little  wharf  that  it 
was  impossible  for  them  to  make  use  of  it  themselves  as  they  were  in  the  habit 
of  doing. 

They  proceeded  consequently  to  the  ferryman's  house,  finding  him  so  deeply 
slumbering  that  the  only  way  to  arouse  him  was  to  break  in  the  door. 

He  came  out  frightened,  to  see  what  was  the  matter. 

"  We  want  to  cross,"  replied  Joaquin,  "  but  before  making  the  passage,  we 
would  like  you  to  lend  us  all  the  money  you  have  about  you.  This  may  prove 
to  you  that  no  beating  about  the  bush  is  allowed,"  added  he,  displaying  his 
six-shooter  under  the  poor  fellow's  nose. 

"  Put  it  up,"  said  he,  "  I  will  give  you  all  there  is." 

He  lit  a  candle  and  produced  a  purse  containing  only  a  hundred  dollars. 

11  Come  now,"  growled  Three-fingered  Jack,  who  was-  of  the  party  and  who 
never  wanted  to  miss  burning  powder,  "  this  won't  do.  You've  got  more  than 
this,  out  with  it." 

He  would  have  fired,  indeed,  but  Joaquin  ordered  him  to  keep  quiet. 

"  It  is  all  I  have,  senor,"  replied  the  trembling  ferryman. 

"  I  don't  trouble  myself  about  so  little,"  said  the  chief,  with  that  generosity 
which  is  sometimes  seen  in  those  who  are  "  flush,"  "keep  it.  Take  us  over  to 
the  other  side  and  you  shall  be  paid  besides." 

Without  any  other  adventure,  and  that  was  scarcely  remarkable,  the  little 
party  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  Stocton  after  a  two  days'  journey,  encamping 
three  miles  or  so  out  of  town  under  a  luxuriant  clump  of  trees. 


Or    The  Marauder  of  the  Mines. 


109 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A  STORY  OF  THE  '  SCORCHERS  '  OP  FRANCE. THE  PARIS  LAWYER  AND  THE  CHIEF  OP 

THE  BAND. FOILED  ! DISCOVERED. THE  ATTACK  ON  THE  FARM. THE  FAILURE, 

FLIGHT  AND  PURSUIT. 

"  COME,  Rafael  Quintara,  let's  have  a  story  or  a  song,"  said  Joaquin's  men, 
as  they  smoked  round  the  fire,  carefully  sheltered  on  the  side  towards  the  sleep 
ing  town  of  Stockton. 

"  Very  well,  if  it's  my  turn,"  replied  the  bandit,  kissing  the  mouth  of  his 
orandy-nask  for  a  moment.  "  Wait  a  bit  till  I  think  of  something.  Well,  here 
goes.  I  heard  it  from  a  Frenchman  at  Guaymas  who  had  been  left  there  sick 
in  Raousset  Boulbon's  filibustering,  and  who  was  a  relation  of  the  great  French 

lawyer  Berry er.     So  you  may  rely  on  the  story  being  true." 

******* 

Some  dozen  leagues  -from  Chartres,  near  the  Vendomoise  country,  was  a 
great  wood  called  the  Forest  of  Orgares. 

In  its  centre  were  large  quarries  from  which  had  been  taken  the  immense 
quantities  of  stone  required  to  build  the  magnificent  Cathedral  of  Chartres. 

One  day  when  all  the  authorities  of  France  had  their  hands  full  from  the  dis 
tressed  condition  of  the  Republic,  for  France  was  in  the  great  Revolution,  then, 
four  or  five  young  fellows,  having  crept  into  a  cavern  almost  without  end  to 
shelter  themselves  from  a  storm,  began  to  wonder  at  the  extent  of  the  excava 
tions  and  the  loneliness  of  the  surroundings. 

"  Body  of  me !"  cried  one,  generally  nick-named  Henry  the  Handsome, 
"  what  a  place  for  a  colony  of  fellows  of  our  kidney !" 

Half  a  year  afterwards,  the  quarries  were  the  haunt  of  the  vilest  and  most 
fearful  gallows-birds,  under  that  young  man's  lead. 

Women  were  admitted  into  the  band. 

The  wretches'  most  common  plan  was  to  pretend  to  be  beggars  and  stop  at 
nightfall  at  farm-houses  to  ask  for  bread  or  shelter. 

The  moment  they  could,  they  would  overpower  the  people  in  the  dwelling. 

If  the  prisoners  refused  to  tell  where  was  hidden  their  money  —  for  the  farm 
ers  had  no  banks  in  which  to  place  the  proceeds  of  their  produce  in  those  un 
settled  days — they  were  bound,  and  their  feet  and  legs  were  toasted  at  great 
fires  until  the  skin  was  scorched  off  amid  unutterable  agony  or  they  acknowl 
edged  anything. 

Things  rose  to  such  a  pitch  that,  as  the  wits  of  the  country  could  not  vie 
with  those  of  the  cut-throats,  the  head  department  was  petitioned  to  send  down 
some  criminal  lawyer  who  would  undertake  the  ferreting  out. 

Monsieur  Thomas  Mereville  was  selected. 

A  sharp  December  wind  was  freezing  the  moisture  on  the  trees  and  ground, 
and  making  very  grateful  a  larg  fire  that  leaped  up  in  the  ample  chymney- 
place  of  the  Brothers-All  Inn  of  Saint  Maurice. 

The  half  dozen  of  the  household  of  the  tavern,  landlord,  cooks  and  servants 
with  a  young  and  good-looking  traveler  were  listening  to  the  story  told  by  Mr. 
M.  Mereville,  as  he  dried  his  mud  and  ice  spotted  trowser  legs  at  the  fire. 

He  was  addressing  a  soldier  in  a  captain's  uniform  who  stood  near  him. 

"  You're  perfectly  right,  my  dear  captain,  I  was  very  imprudant,"  said  the 
lawyer.  "  I  ought  to  have  asked  an  escort  of  you  as  I  passed  through  Churtrain. 
It  was  folly  that  spurred  me  on.  I  wanted  to  get  here  by  dark,  but  night  over 
took  me  when  I  was  all  of  a  league  from  here.  I  was  a  little  uneasy  but  I 
spurred  on  my  post-horse.  Suddenly,  without  my  having  had  the  least  warn 
ing,  a  whole  troop  of  men  jumped  out  of  the  roadside,  right  and  left " 


110  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

"  The  Scorchers  !"  interrupted  the  landlord's  rough  voice  and  his  servants' 
shriller  ones. 

"  1  believe  so,  my  friends,"  replied  the  advocate  blandly.  "  One  of  them 
shouted :  *  All  right.  That's  him  !'  I  was  pulled  off  my  horse  quicker  than 
my  smartest  clerk  can  attest  a  will.  I  set  up  a  cry,  while  they  handled  me 
rudely.  Just  then,  a  gallop  of  horses  behind  me,  alarmed  them,  and.  after 
knocking  me  down  with  a  backhander  in  the  mouth,  luckily  with  a  naked  fist 
and  not  with  one  of  their  ugly  cudgels,  they  darted  off,  with  my  valise.  I 
think  one  of  them  said,  as  they  ran  :  'I'll  see  you  again  !'  but  I  ain't  sure.  Any 
how,  I  owe  all  my  salvation,  under  heaven,  to  brave  Captain  Vasseur  here  pres- 
erit,"  concluded  the  lawyer,  shaking  the  officer's  hand  again  with  his  old  wrin 
kled  one. 

"  Did  one  of  the  Scorchers  promise  to  pay  you  a  visit  ?"  inquired  the  soft 
voice  of  the  traveler,  who  had  the  look  of  being  a  pedler  in  a  fair  business.  "  If 
he  did,  sir,  be  careful ;  they  always  keep  their  word,  don't  they  ?" 

"  Always,"  chorussed  the  assemblage.     "  Francis  is  right." 

"  And  could  not  the  captain  catch  'em  1"  asked  Francis,  mildly  admiring  the 
officer. 

"  Sir,"  replied  the  latter,  taking  the  look  as  if  he  had  received  many  such,  as 
indeed  his  noble  bearing  deserved,  "I  Hid  not  see  the  highwaymen  at  all. 
Well  for  them.  The  darkness  was  enough  to  forbid  pursuit,  and  the  thicket 
was  impenetrable.  However,  I  mean  to  be  to  horse  at  dawn,  when  I  will  scour 
the  country.  Let  me  only  catch  one  of  the  wretches  to  begin  with,  and  I'll  an 
swer  for  the  others.  It's  my  opinion,  too,  that  we  have  more  beggars  prowling 
about  that  even  the  hard  times  make  necessary.  We  may  have  the  brigands 
under  our  very  hands  often,  without  knowing  it,"  said  he. 

"  So  you  may,  without  knowing  it"  repeated  Mr.  Francis,  while  the  landlord 
and  his  retinue  nodded,  and  left  the  room  to  dish  up  supper. 

The  officer  went  out  of  the  tavern  after  the  meal  to  see  the  chief  magistrate 
of  the  village. 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  Francis  the  pedler  had  made  himself  quite  intimate  with  the 
old  advocate  and  had  heard  nearly  a  score  of  anecdotes  concerning  members  of 
the  bar,  all  of  which  elevated  the  narrator  into  a  station  which  should  have 
been  that  of  the  Government  Prosecutor.  Mereville  even  invited  his  new  ac 
quaintance  into  his  bedroom,  where  they  chatted  by  the  fire. 

All  at  once,  the  man  of  the  blackrobe  uttered  an  exclamation,  ro&e  and,  with 
a  frightened  stare,  looked  at  the  single  window  of  the  room. 

"  A  man — a  man's  face  there !"  gasped  the  terrified  barrister. 

Francis  leaped  up  and  to  the  place,  threw  open  the  four-paned  sash  and 
looked  on  coolly. 

"  To  the  right.  The  signal"  whispered  he  to  a  man  indeed  clinging  to  the 
rough  outside.  "  There's  not  a  soul  in  sight  anywhere  below,  much  less  there,' 
added  he  aloud,  returning,  "  you  can  see  for  yourself." 

But  the  lawyer  did  not  accept  the  invitation,  though  he  did  the  assertion. 

"  I'm  a  little  affected,  I  suppose,  by  the  blow  that  stunned  me.  I  attach  too 
much  importance  to  that  villain's  threat — mere  words,  mere  words. — " 

"  Perhaps,"  remarked  the  merchant-pedler ;  "  but,  at  all  events,  a  good  sound 
sleep  will  cure  you.  Good  night,  will  you  permit  me  to  say  it?" 

"G — goodnight.  Stay.  Do  you  thhA  that  this  room  is  s — safe1?"  stam 
mered  the  really  affrighted  man,  who  had  commenced  to  believe  that  there  was 
danger  in  being  the  open  enemy  of  the  formidable  Scorcher.  "  I  have  papers  of 
value  about  me — which  the  robbers  did  not  have  time  to  take — or  I  wouldn't 
ask." 

"  Certainly  !"  exclaimed  Francis,  quite  joyful  at  these  last  words  for  some 
reason  or  other.  "  Nothing  but  a  babe  in  arms  could  be  forced  through  that 
window  and  a  ladder  would  be  required  even  then — it's  all  of  thirty  feet  to  the 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  Ill 

stable-yard  below.  The  doors  are  country  made,  none  of  your  city  card-boards, 
solid  oak  and  plenty  of  iron.  That  General  Bonaparte  who,  they  say,  is  deal 
ing  the  Austrlans  such  hard  knocks,  couldn't  break  through  that,  1  warrant. 
This  window  in  the  wall  opens  on  my  room,  and — unless  1  give  up  my  hon 
est,  if  not  too  profitable  profession  of"  selling  lace  and  trinkets,  scarfs  and  rib 
bons,"  concluded  Francis  laughing,  "  for  the  black  calling  of  a  pillager — you 
need  not  fear." 

"Goodnight." 

All  had  gone  to  sleep  in  the  tavern.  , 

All  except  Francis. 

When  he  was  convinced  of  this,  he  went  to  his  table,  fcr  he  had  laid  down 
and  made  his  bed  creak  an  hour  ago  as  the  servant  maids  passed  through  the 
entry  to  retire  up-stairs,  and  cut  his  candle  cleverly  into  eight  pieces,  each 
small,  to  be  sure,  but  still  able  to  burn  for  a  brief  space. 

Cleverly  did  he  cut  hollows  round  the  wicks,  and  lighted  them  all  set  side  by 
side  on  the  window  sill. 

In  a  few  seconds,  while  they  burnt,  and  while  he  peered  over  them  out  into 
the  gloom,  he  saw  a  star  spring  from  the  ground,  turn  a  summerset  over  a  tree, 
and  fall.  This  was  done  twice  more. 

Then,  leisurely,  he  extingushed  his  little  tapers  one  by  one,  each  end  at  a 
time,  till,  solitary  gleam,  the  central  piece  burned  on. 

Fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  passed,  Francis  had  replaced  the  light  on  the  table, 
pushed  off  the  bits  of  melted  tallow,  and  opened  the  little  window. 

He  expressed  no  surprise  when  a  kind  of  ball  appeared  on  the  stable-roofs, 
rolled  down  on  a  dungheap  to  the  walls  of  the  house — while  the  huge  watch 
dog  look  on  silent  and  as  if  enchanted —  and  began  to  ascend  like  a  fly,  until  a 
man's  face-  was  beside  Francis's. 

"You,  Acrobat  the  Thumbless  ?"  querried  he  cautiously. 

"  Of  course.     Who  else  can  climb  so  fashion?"  replied  the  man  with  a  sort 
of  pride.     "Pardon  me,  captain,  for  mistaking  the  other  room,  and  coming  be 
fore  the  signal."     • 

"  You  are  fined  forty  francs  a-week  for  two  months,"  said  Francis,  sternly. 
"  Silence  !  no  excuses." 

"  The  seven  I  had  with  me  are  dismissed." 

"  That's  right.  I  don't  want  you  either.  Tell  the  band  to  lie  perdu,  and  all 
the  outlyers  to  close  in.  That  captain  will  be  up  and  doing  in  the  morning. 
Go." 

"  Thanks,  Captain  Henri,"  said  the  man,  glad — chilled  as  he  was  by  the  icy 
blast — to  accomplish  his  descent  skillfully  and  disappear. 

The  watch-dog  let  him  pass,  unchallenged  as  before. 

(When,  long  after  the  trials  of  the  Scorchers  took  place,  one  Jean  Pierre  Fo- 
laret,  alias  Acrobat  the  Thumbless,  alias  the  Juggler,  was  proven  to  have  the 
secret  of  preparing  a  weed  called  by  the  peasantry  "  Our  Lady's  hair,"  into  a 
powder,  which  sprinkled  over  a  man,  "charmed"  wild  and  tame  beasts.) 

Midnight  was  come. 

Profound  calm  weighed  upon  the  house.  Outside,  the  north-wind  rattled 
boughs  of  trees  and  jingled  the  icicles  on  the  swinging  signboard. 

The  last  sound  of  active  life  in  the  next  room  to  the  so-called  pedler's  had 
been  when  "  boots"  had  entered  to  see  if  the  distinguished  lawyer  had  all  he 
required. 

Francis,  listening,  had  heard  a  chink  of  money  and  some  low  words  which 
he  had  not  been  able  to  make  out. 

"  If  he  is  buying  anything,"  muttered  he,  "he  can  invest  in  a  gravestone  and 
a  tomb-wreath  with  advantage." 

Since  then,  he  had  heard  the  advocate  slumber  lightly,  poorly,  and  broken  in 
rest  by  dreams. 


112  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

His  uneven  respiration  gave  token  of  how  impressionable  he  was  and  how  ho 
had  been  impressed  by  the  late  outrage  upon  him. 

Mr.  Mereville  was  awakened  from  a  vision  of  his  in  which  he  was  walking 
along  an  alley  of  which  the  trees  on  either  side  were  gibbets  adorned  with  dead, 
when  they  all  fell  in  upon  him. 

The  ghastly  forms,  the  greasy  ropes,  the  hideous  beams,  descended  on  him 
— he  tried  to  shake  off  the  terrying  load — one  gibbet-arm  rested  spite  of  all  on 
his  shoulder — he  awoke ! 

His  shoulder  was  indeed  touched. 

He  started  up  convulsively  and  faltered  in  a  die-away  tone : 
"Who— o  is  that?" 

"  Awake  at  last,  M.  Mereville,"  answered  a  cautious  voice.  "  Very  well. 
We'll  have  our  chat." 

The  poor  veteran  of  legal  warfare,  whose  ideas  were  not  in  order  yet,  quickly 
pulled  aside  still  wider  the  curtains  of  the  bed  to  have  a  look  at  a  person  who 
wanted  "  to  chat"  at  such  an  hour. 

The  caudle  burned  dimly  in  its  floating  bowl  in  a  basin,  tremulously  reflected 
on  the  gloom  of  the  room. 

A  man  was  between  him  and  the  light,  seated  on  the  chair  from  which  he  had 
unceremoniously  brushed  the  clothes  of  the  man  a-bed. 

"  What!  M.  Francis,  my  friend  the  pedler  !"  said  he. 

"  Often  that  by  day,"  responded  the  voice  deeply,  "  but  by  night — now}  at 
all  events — Henri  the  Handsome,  with  fifty  other  names,  Captain  of  the 
Scorchers,  at  yours  and  everybody  else's  service!" 

"  Captain  of  the  Scorchers !"  reiterated  the  man  of  law.  "  I  am  lost !"  groaned 
he,  falling  back  on  his  pillow. 

"  Don't  speak  so  loud — you've  no  witness  to  bully  now,"  said  Henri  the 
ihief,  severely.  "  To  business.  I  suspect  that  you  have  papers  in  your  posses 
sion  proving  that  the  Henri  Maisonforte  who  was  sentenced  for  twenty  years 
to  the  galleys  (but  who  escaped)  is  illegitimate  son  of  Michel  Dralange  of 
Dourdan,  and  not  the  lawful  one.  I  must  have  those  proofs  and  destroy  them, 
for  his  friends,  though  they  know  him  a  miscreant,  must  not  know  he  is  a  bas 
tard  !  And  I  want  the  evidence  you  have  that  proves  Michel's  son  to  be  the 
same  as  Maisonforte.  And  1  want  all  the  papers  you  have  concerning  my 
band." 

"  But  I — I  haven't  them,"  moaned  the  advocate,  convulsively  writhing  in  the 
bed. 

Nor  had  he,  for  with  a  fox's  excessive  cunning,  he  had  sent  "  boots"  with 
these  very  documents  to  deposit  them  with  the  magistrate  for  surety. 

But  he  dared  not  tell  the  desperate  man  before  him,  that. 

"  You  have  them,  sir,  I  am  sure.  True,  they're  not  in  your  clothes,  or  under 
the  pillow,  for  I  have  searched.  Where  are  they  hidden  ?" 

"  I  haven't  got  them.  They  were — yes  !  in  the  valise  that  the  robbers  took 
from  me  on  the  road  !" 

"  Liar  !  Those  robbers  were  my  rascals,  and  my  own  hands  opened  your 
valise.  Do  you  not  recal  my  voice  ?  'Twas  I  who  promised  to  visit  you  ?  I 
keep  my  word." 

The  lawyer  shuddered  more  than  ever. 

"  Methinks,  Master  Lawyer  of  Paris,"  sneered  Henri  the  Handsome,  "  that 
you  have  not  learnt  yet  of  what  I  am  capable.  Let  me  tell  you  that  you  ought 
to  tremble  to  think  of  being  alone  with  me  in  this  cjiumber  where  you  are 
wholly  at  my  mercy." 

The  very  excess  of  his  alarm  unloosed  the  man's  tongue. 

"  I  will  cry  out — and  they'll  take  you — you're  alone,"  half-threatened  he. 

"  Bah  I"  returned  tha  chief  of  the  brigands  with  a  scornful  laugh.  "This 
whole  house  is  at  my  mercy,  even  if  I  could  not  handle  its  whole  force  singly. 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  113 

Fve  only  to  open  that  window,  give  a  signal  and  to-morrow's  sun  will  light  on 
smoking  ruins  and  some  half-baked  carcases." 

Inarticulate  and  faint  moans  only  came  from  the  lawyer. 

The  impatient  bandit  bent  down  and  said  in  penetrating  accents : 

"  Have  done,  thousand  thunders !  Where  are  the  papers  ]  I  must  have 
them " 

But  vainly  did  he  wait  for  a  word  or  a  movement  that  would  betray  the 
secret-place  of  the  objects  of  his  searches. 

Hie  wretched  old  man  continued  to  gasp  and  shiver. 

At  the  height  of  fury,  Henri  the  Handsome  drew  his  knife  and  was  about  to 
nail  the  unfortunate  man  to  his  couch,  when  a  suspicion  struck  him  forcibly  and 
suddenly. 

He  bent  over  the  lawyer  and  tore  the  clothing  off  his  features.  Then  he  be 
held  that  the  poor  old  man,  broken  by  unwonted  fatigue  of  traveling  and  by 
the  emotions  of  the  late  assault  (perhaps  affected  by  the  blow),  was  suffering 
from  congestion  of  the  brain. 

His  face  was  puffed  out  with  blood,  his  eyes  rolled  awfully,  and  his  tied 
tongue  revealed  approaching  paralysis. 

The  robber  leader  contemplated  the  horrid  sight  placidly,  and  laughed. 

"  A  visitation  by  me  1  a  visitation  of  God  !"  said  he  jestingly ;  "  a  real,  natu 
ral  stroke  of  apoplexy.  By  the  lips  of  my  love  this  is  too  much  luck  for  me. 
You're  very  kind  to  get  into  a  fit,  my  dear  lawyer  of  Paris.  On  my  honor  !  I 
was  wondering  how  I  should  clear  myself  of  suspicion,  and  not  have  to  take  to 
flight,  and  here  you  save  me  the  trouble !  If  that  is  Parisian  politeness,  by 
heaven !  we  country  folks  are  clowns  !" 

The  dreadful  word  ;  "  apoplexy  !"  appeared  to  have  reached  the  already  be 
numbed  intelligence  of  the  sufferer,  for  his  speech  was  thawed  by  a  superhuman 
effort  and  he  slowly  spoke : 

"  A  doctor — he — Ip — bleed  me  !" 

"I  intended  to  do  so,  my' dear  sir,"  replied  Henri,  sheathing  his  knife,  "but  1 
can't  bear  to  cut  such  a  friend.  I  don't  mind  your  making~faces — do  as  you 
please,  while  I  hunt  for  the  papers." 

"Without  attending  to  the  tortured  man,  he  scrupulously  examined  the  apart 
ment. 

After  having  done  so  and  re-searched  the  lawyer's  clothes,  which  he  replaced 
on  the  chair  carefully,  he  ruumaged  the  bed  minutely. 

The  miserable  old  man  seemed  to  be  past  seeing  or  hearing. 

He  did  not  move,  except  by  a  transient  spasm,  his  limbs  were  too  weak. 

At  intervals  his  eyes  caught  a  spark,  but  were  almost  extinguished  speedily. 

"  Sure  enough,  they  are  nowhere,"  said  the  commander  of  the  Scorchers.  "At 
all  events  he  cannot  tell  all  he  knows  !  Things  are  so  so."  • 

He  surveyed  the  apartment  to  note  if  he  had  disturbed  nothing,  and,  bowing 
as  he  took  a  final  mocking  look  at  the  living  corpse,  said  with  affected  polite 
ness  while  a  railing  smile  sat  on  his  really  handsome  face : 

"  Good  night  and  a  long  sleep,  my  friend  of  the  Parisian  bar  who  comes  to 
the  country  to  hunt  my  Scorchers  !" 

On  tip-toe  of  his  stocking-feet,  he  left  the  room  as  he  had  come,  that  is : 
through  the  common  window  of  the  two  apartments  and  quietly  laid  himself 
down,  without  hearkening  to  the  groans,  fainter  and  fainter,  in  the  adjoining 
room. 

A  little  after  breakfast  the  next  morning,  Francis  the  pedler  presented  him 
self  at  the  house  ot  the  magistrate,  M.  Peursans,  and — being  a  relation  of  the 
official — was  admitted  instantly. 

The  magistrate  was  at  work  in  his  office-room  signing  papers. 

Francis  hastened,  when  asked  the  news,  to  acquaint  him  with  the  exciting 
and  sad  affair  that  had  happened  at  the  Inn  of  the  Brother-all,  that  is  to  say : 


114.  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duva*  of  California}  ; 

how  the  great  Parisian  gentleman  of  the  long  robe  stopping  there,  had  been 
frightened  into  a  fit  of  apoplexy,  which  had  been  his  death. 

"  Very  strange,  untimely,"  remarked  M.  Peursans.  "  Excuse  me  a  moment 
till  I  send  Jean  to  inquire  further." 

While  he  was  gone,  Henri  the  Handsome  used  his  fine  eyes  in  a  search  over 
the  papers  on  the  table  and  in  the  pigeon  holes  over  it. 

A  morocco  pocket-book,  which  bore  the  stamp  of  "  Faite  a  Paris.  22,  Rue 
des  Deux  Ecus,  Alphonse  Tirefin  et  Cie.,"  attracted  his  attention. 

What  more  likely  than  that  was  the  very  thing  he  wanted. 

That  whispered  colloquy  with  the  servant  of  the  inn,  the  money  paid !  of 
course. 

Why  had  he  not  questioned  "  boots  ?" 

This  idea,  once  born,  grew  into  the  proportion  of  a  certainty,  and,  with  fixed 
eye  and  nervous  hand,  he  contemplated  the  leather  cover. 

Incapable  of  resisting  such  a  temptation,  he  had  his  finger  on  it,  when  the 
magistrate  entered. 

"  'S  death !"  exclaimed  the  latter,  "  it  is  just  as  you  say,  for  Dr.  Daniel  was 
passing  and  he  had  been  at  the  inn.  When  the  servant  entered,  after  they  had 
to  break  in  the  door,  you  know,  M.  Mereville  was  cold.  Awful  to  be  struck 
dead  thus,  and  after  he  had  just  escaped  the  assassin's  hand." 

"  Amen !"  said  Francis,  thinking  of  something  else. 

There  was  a  silence,  during  which  the  magistrate  thoughtfully  covered  sever 
al  sheets  of  paper  with  writing  and  filled  up  blanks,  while  Francis  greedily  re 
garded  the  pocketbook. 

By  chance  the  former  looked  up  and  he  perceived  the  object  of  his  gaze. 

He  noticed  the  other's  attention  but  did  not  understand  it. 

"  Poor  Mereville,  it  seems  as  if  he  had  obeyed  a  presentiment  in  sending  me 
his  papers,"  said  he.  "  I  must  assure  myself  of  the  nature  of  his  trust." 

He  took  the  leather  case,  undid  the  gum  elastic  fastening  (a  new  idea  at  that 
day)  and  opened  it. 

The  robber  had  the  notion  of  snatching  it  and  running  off. 

Who  could  stop  him  ? 

Peursans  was  no  match  for  him  and  he  could  easily  slip  out  of  the  house. 

But  the  very  consciousness  of  his  power  checked  him. 

Henri  the  Handsome  liked  to  brave  danger. 

Hence  he  kept  his  seat,  but  instead  of  preserving  the  mask  of  mildness  and 
good  humor  which  he  had  worn,  he  let  his  features  assume  a  more  natural  ex- 
a'ton  of  audacity  and  ferocity. 

His  bold  look  and  haughty  smile  seemed  to  hint  a  spirit  defying  the  world. 

The  magistrate  glanced  over  the  endorsement  of  several  papers,  had  his  wan 
dering  vision  caught  and  brought  to  bear  on  one  especially,  read  it,  read  the 
next,  and  more  with  an  intense  fascination. 

Abruptly  he  flung  a  fiery  glance  on  Handsome  Henri,  who  did  not  stir  and 
only  smiled  the  more  proudly. 

He  resumed  the  reading,  until,  throwing  all  the  documents  on  the  table  and 
leaning  towards  the  cool  captain,  said  : 

"  And  are  you  Maisonforte  the  convict  ?  You  must  be —  you  smile  !  Ah ! 
and  did  you  kill  this  lawyer  !  I  see,  I  see !  oh,  devil —  " 

"  My  dear  relative,"  said  the  bandit  tranquilly,  with  a  stress  on  the  words, 
"  what  flea  has  bitten  you  ?  Can  you  be  affected  by  the  death  of  an  old  chap 
tvhom  you  never  set  eyes  on  ?" 

"  Use  no  such  trifling,  insulting  tone,  unsuiting  your  dangerous  position,"  said 
the  magistrate  energetically.  "  1  know  you  now,  Maisonforte,  escaped  from 
the  galleys." 

"  And  your  relative,  all  the  same.  The  papers  prove  one  just  as  much  as  the 
other." 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  116 

"  What  a  shame  on  our  family  !  But  I  will  do  my  duty  and  denounce  you 
as  the  escaped  convict  and  as  the  probable  murderer  of  the  lawyer." 

"  His  real  murderer,  if  it  comes  to  that,"  said  Henri,  crossing  his  legs  easily. 

"  And,"  continued  the  authority,  as  a  sudden  light  broke  in  on  him,  "  you 
may  be  connected  with  that  fearful  band,  the  Scorchers  !" 

"  The  Scorchers  follow  my  lead  as  the  hounds  do  the  huntsman,"  said  the 
brigand  calmly.  "  But  for  all  that,  what  can  you  do  ?" 

M.  Peursans  was  silent. 

He  was  alone  in  the  house  except  a  couple  of  female  domestics,  he  had  no 
weapons,  and  the  chief  of  the  band  of  Orgares  was  not  the  man  to  be  assailed 
single-handed,  as  his  attitude  of  confidence  sufficiently  indicated. 

The  responsibility  weighing  upon  him  made  an  icy  sweat  stand  upon  his 
brows. 

Henry  the  Handsome  kept  his  seat  in  such  a  careless  way  that  anybody 
would  have  believed  him  the  judge  and  the  magistrate  who  paced  the  room,  the 
culprit. 

At  last  the  robber  rose  and  took  Peursan's  arm. 

"  I  only  ask  your  company  to  the  door  and  I'll  leave  you.  You  had  better 
make  away  with  those  papers  when  you  return,  if  you  know  your  own  good. 
Come." 

"  The  stupefied  magistrate  obeyed  mechanically. 

They  stood  at  the  front  door. 

"  Wretch,  wretch  !"  burst  forth  the  official  as  his  indignation  at  length  grew 
past  constraint,  "  how  can  you  tempt  me  so.  Do  I  not,  by  calling  on  you  the 
vengeance  of  the  laws,  prove  to  all  that  I  am  a  righteous  man  who  holds  you  ic 
as  equal  scorn  as  horror  1M 

"  Not  exactly,"  hissed  the  bandit,  "  Folks  will  say  :  '  What  a  far-seeing  kins 
man,  who  \vaited  till  rewards  were  at  their  height,  ere  selling  his  own  blood.'  * 

This  last  subtle  argument,  of  which  the  magistrate  felt  the  truth  too  clearly, 
made  him  desperate. 

He  fancied  himself  already, dishonored,  lost,  ruined,  accused  of  complicity 
with  his  crime-stained  connection,  who  had  visited  him  and  been  closeted  with 
him  at  all  hours  and  on  countless  occasions. 

The  peril  appeared  to  be  unavoidable,  whichever  Way  he  looked  at  it. 

His  grief  was  neither  mute  nor  inactive,  nevertheless. 

"  Off !  away,  scoundrel !  let  me  never  see  you  more.  I  keep  my  promise 
now,  but  I  will  be  the  first  to  start  in  pursuit  of  you,  after  twenty  hours' 
grace  !" 

Luckily  for  the  speaker,  he  had  strength  enough  to  push  the  bandit  out  of  the 
door  and  slam  it  to  in  his  face,  for  the  thwarted  ruffian —  on  seeing  the  barrier 
put  between  them  so  timely —  ground  his  teeth  and  foamed  at  the  mouth,  wild 
ly  hammering  on  the  door  with  fist  and  foot. 

He  called  to  Peursans  in  a  wrathful  voice,  but  the  latter  had  no  such  impru 
dence  as  to  put  himself  in  his  power  again. 

The  maddened  chief  was  not  slow  to  feel  the  danger  in  acting  so  like  a  ma 
niac. 

He  hurried  away  to  the  inn,  strapped  on  his  back  the  case  of  finery  which 
covered  his  journeys  from  suspicion,  and  made  for  the  retreat  of  his  band, 
threatening  and  planning  as  he  went. 

That  night  a  large  body  of  men,  on  foot,  were  marching  out  of  the  heart  of 
the  Forest  of  Orgares  to  reach  the  highway  conducting  to  the  village  of  Saint 
Maurice. 

This  part  of  the  wood  was  within  the  bounds  which  Captain  Henri  had  bold 
ly  formed  as  the  territory  of  his  band. 

The  trees  were  "  blazed  "  as  landmarks  and  names  of  him  and  his  lieutenants 
cut  upon  them. 


116  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

• .  No  travelers  dared  to  enter  under  the  shadow  of  the  oaks ;  few  of  the  peas 
ants  were  in  the  outskirts  except  in  broad  day. 

Armed  forces  were  often  afraid  to  pass  along  the  grass-grown  roads. 

Such  a  terror  did  the  malefactors  spread  that  they  took  little  pains  to  conceal 
themselves. 

It  was  found  out  afterwards  that  the  farmers  of  the  vicinity  very  well  knew 
the  real  character  of  the  pretended  beggars  who  forced  them  to  be  generous  in 
almsgiving. 

,  They  ventured  neither  to  complain  or  murmur  and  humbly  submitted  to  the 
burden,  without  thinking  that  they  became  accomplices  in  imposing  it  upon 
themselves. 

This  party  of  the  brigand  were  going  soon  to  have  a  fresh  proof  of  the  fear 
that  they  inspired,  and  a  proof,  less  welcome,  of  the  fact  that  human  patience 
and  suiferance  can  be  tried  too  far. 

The  miscreants  had  been  more  than  an  hour  a-foot  and  they  had  become 
very  thirsty,  from  being  so  well  wrapped  up,  though  in  rags  outside,  against 
&e  cold. 

A  little  refreshment  and  a  slight  repose  was  their  desire. 

They  stopped  on  the  top  of  a  hill,  which  was  the  last  elevation  of  the  plain 
on  which  was  the  village  of  Saint  Maurice  at  the  other  end. 

Henri  the  Handsome  surveyed  the  landscape. 

It  was  gloomy  enough,  but  bright  star-light  let  large  objects  be  distinguished. 

After  a  moment's  gaze,  the  commander  pointed  out  a  large  farm-house  which 
rose  half  way  down  the  hill-side. 

"  That's  the  crib  of  that  old  rascal  Marchet.     Come  on,"  said  he  laconically. 

They  descended  thitherward. 

A  light  shining  in  the  large  hall,  or  main  room,  told  that  the  people  had  not 
retired  to  rest,  despite  the  advanced  hour. 

Beyond  a  doubt  they  had  caught  some  rumor  of  the  band  going  to  be  "  at 
work  "  that  night,  yet  nothing  betrayed  any  apprehension  on  their  part. 

They  had  made  no  preparations  for  defence. 

The  dogs  were  chained  up,  and  the  big  gate  was  half  open. 

Perhaps  they  feared  that  the  least  evidence  of  shrinking  would  invite  an  ad- 
yance. 

The  band  strode  in  boldly,  and  one  or  two  gave  the  noses  of  the  watchdogs 
a  tap  with  a  club  to  make  them  keep  quiet,  while  Henri  the  Handsome  pushed 
open  the  house  door. 

The  farmer's  family  and  farmhands  were  forming  a  half-circle  round  the  fire, 
while  on  the  long  table  were  the  remains  of  the  hearty  supper. 

The  fire  and  torches  of  pine  lighted  up  the  place. 

.  At  the  entrance  of  the  bandit  chief,  well  known  like  his  followers  to  the  be 
holders,  everybody  stopped  talking  or  eating  or  drinking,  as  the  case  might  be. 

All  the  people  turned  white  as  ghosts,  and  some  of  them  rose  automatonical- 
ly  to  offer  their  seats. 

Henri  the  Handsome,  with  the  action  of  a  man  pretty  sure  that  anything  he 
did  was  allowable,  stepped  up  to  the  table  and  lifted  a  cider  jug  to  his  lips. 

His  fellows  imitated  his  act  and  cleared  the  board,  without  one  word,  much 
less  an  excuse,  being  addressed. 

Nevertheless,  beside  the  old  master  of  the  house,  there  were  his  two  stout 
sons  and  four  more  young  men  of  similar  build,  who  might  have  given  .the  in 
truders  a  busy  time  of  it  with  their  cudgels  and  the  fowling  pieces  which  hung 
on  their  hooks. 

The  half  dozen  robust  girls  of  the  house  and  diary  were  not  to  be  despised 
in  a  fight,  either. 

But  not  a  soul  among  them  seemed  to  dream  of  resistance,  but  dwelt  speech 
less,  and  motionless. 


0r,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  117 

The  farmer,  at  first  taken  all  aback  by  the  unexpected  inroad,  recovered 
somewhat. 

With  exaggerated  politeness,  he  poured  out : 

"  Goodness  me !  it's  citizen  Henri,  and  my  dear  Acrobat  the  Thumbless — 
and  the  Big  Norman,  and  the  Doctor,  too  !  Lord !  quite  a  meeting  of  friends! 
Sit  down,  bless  me,  sit  down  !  eat  a  drop  and  drink  a  slice  or  two  of  bread  ! 
Here,  wife,  and  you,  you  staring  hussies !  look  alive,  in  the  name  of  old  Nick  . 
stir  your  stumps,  you  jades !  some  ham,  clean  plates,  wine,  cider  !  I'll  bet  my 
head  that  Henri  the  Handsome  and  his  gan — his  friends,  I  mean,  will  take  a  sup 
of  our  home-brewed  beer  !" 

The  poor  women,  jumping  up  electrified,  began  to  run  about  at  random, 
without  knowing  what  they  did. 

With  an  imperious  wave  of  the  hand,  Henri  nailed  them  all  to  the  floor,  like 
statues. 

"  Useless.     We  are  expected  and  cannot  stay." 

His  companions  were  finishing  more  cider. 

"  What !  going  so  quick,  just  like  the  angels  !"  said  the  farmer  in  an  affected 
regret.  "  If  you  are  in  a  hurry,  though,  Citizen  Henri,  don't  let  us  detain  you 
with  our  humble  fare.  It  comes  from  the  heart,  though,  from  the  heart." 

Half  the  band  had  already  stalked  out  smacking  their  lips  like  coachwhips. 

The  farmer,  seeing  he  was  going  to  get  off  cheaply  this  time,  followed  the 
captain  and  the  rest  and,  like  a  countryman  of  those  parts,  tried  to  gain  some 
thing  else. 

"1  may  as  well  tell  you,  Doctor,"  said  he  to  the  lieutenant  so  nicknamed,  in 
an  insinuating  voice,  "  that  my  white  cow  Blanche  is  still  sick — look  in  on  us 
and  give  us  a  dose  for  her,  that's  a  kind  fellow.  You  know  so  many  secrets  of 
curing  men  that  you  must  be  able  to  cure  a  cow  !" 

The  Doctor,  nattered  exceedingly,  wrent  out,  nodding. 

This  promise  obtained,  Farmer  Marchet  presumed  still  further. 

As  the  last  of  his  unwelcome  visiters  left,  he  stood  in  his  doorway,  cap  in 
hand,  and  raised  his  voice  to  say  loudly : 

"  And  won't  you  be  so  kind,  citizen  Henri  the  Handsome,  to  pass  the  word 
for  your  good  people  not  to  take  all  the  fowls  out  of  the  poultry-house  this 
Christmas  week  like  last !  Don't  be  hard  on  a  neighbor  I  They  only  left  me 
one  old  rooster  last  year  that  the  fox  wouldn't  take  !" 

The  farmer  had  gone  too  far. 

"  '  Sailor  Boy,'  or  whoever's  nearest  there,"  cried  Henri,  "  send  that  chatter 
box  to  sleep" 

One  of  the  rearguard  swung  his  club  in  the  air  and  knocked  the  old  man  into 
the  house,  dead  as  a  stone. 

The  robbers  paid  no  further  attention  to  him,  when  suddenly  a  young  man's 
voice  shouted  within  the  doorway  as  one  of  the  murdered  mail's  sons  lifted  the 
corpse : 

"  To  arms  !  Close  the  shutters  !  We  will  have  help  from  the  soldiers  soon. 
The  guns,  the  guns  !" 

The  brigands,  half  out  of  the  court-yard,  paused  instinctively. 

Bang  !  went  a  shot  and  one  of  the  robbers  leaned  against  the  wall ;  his  arm 
had  been  broken  by  the  bullet. 

One  of  the  orphan  brothers  stood  in  the  doorway  with  the  smoking-piece. 

"  Back !"  yelled  Henri,  forgetting  all  at  this.  "  They  have  brought  it  on 
themselves  !  In,  and  make  mincemeat  of  them  !" 

But  the  farmhands,  having  broken  the  spell,  and  having  strong  oaken  planks 
between  them  and  the  robbers  were  not  ths  terrified  swains  of  other  days. 

They  felt  assured  that  the  noise  of  a  conflict  would  bring  them  aid  soon,  for 
they  had  seen  the  numbers  of  troops  pouring  into  Saint  Maurice. 

They  were  good  rabbit  hunters,  and  a  man  who  can  hit  puss,  can  easilj 


118  tfoaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California); 

bring  down  a  man,  and  their  four  guns  killed  each  their  man  at  the  next  rush 
of  the  brigands. 

The  fight  was  fairly  inaugurated. 

One  corner  of  the  farmhouse  was  fired,  however,  and  the  flames  spread  rapid 
ly  in  the  cold  dry  air. 

At  this  juncture,  there  came  running  up  the  hill  one  of  the  connections  of  the 
gang,  who  had  seen  the  soldiers  assembling  on  the  village-square  to  proceed  to 
the  conflagration. 

,  With  a  last  volley,  to  which  the  peasants  responded,  the  foiled  bandit  called 
off  his  men,  angry  now  that  he  should  have  let  his  grander  project  be  thus  turn, 
ed  aside. 

They  reached  the  woods  before  the  hussars  and  foot  soldiers  came  up  the  hill. 

The  latter  spent  the  night  in  searching  for  them  fruitlessly. 

As  the  sun  set  the  next  day  over  the  quarries,  the  robbers  were  assembled  in 
groups  in  the  old  haunt,  singing,  dancing  and  otherwise  making  merry. 

They  showed  no  tokens  of  the  previous  evening's  defeat,  unlike  their  chief 
who  sat  apart  under  a  tree. 

As  he  was  sulking  and  chafing,  one  of  the  videttes  cried  out  the  "  who  goes 
there  ?"  which  was  repeated  by  many  others. 

A  sound  approached,  and  soon  grew  into  a  medley  of  outcries  of  pain  and 
oaths. 

At  length,  several  men  appeared  with  a  burden,  which  they  laid  rather  gently 
on  the  sward. 

"  Where  is  Baptist  ?"  shouted  one  of  the  bearers,  "  where's  that  rascally  doc 
tor  *?  Fetch  him  along  quick  for  a  wounded  man  ?" 

"  A  wounded  man  ?"  repeated  Henri  the  Handsome,  aroused  from  his  rev 
erie,  "  by  all  the  devils,  their  horns  and  their  hoofs  !  is  no  one  to  have  a  mo 
ment's  repose  1  Who  is  hurt  now  ?" 

"  It  looks  the  very  picture  of  the  Big  Norman  sprawled  out  there  howling  like 
a  sick  hog,"  answered  the  *  Sailor  Boy.'  "  Come  on,  fellows,  and  see  the  fun." 

He  ran  to  the  spot  with  others. 

The  chief  himself  hastened  after. 

A  few  only  were  too  drunk  to  have  any  thought  except  for  the  dance. 

The  Big  Norman  was  indeed  extended  on  the  ground,  groaning  and  cursing 
by  turns. 

He  had  been  out  with  another  knave,  called  the  Red-eyed  of  Borgny,  and 
they  had  had  admittance  refused  them  in  a  farm-house — for  the  country  people 
were  becoming  bold  as  lions  since  soldiers  were  in  the  district  to  back  them — 
and  had  had  a  gun  fired  at  them,  of  which  the  present  sufferer  had  received  the 
charge  in  his  breast  and  shoulders. 

He  was  covered  with  blood  and  was  in  great  agony. 

The  Sailor  Boy  bent  over  the  sufferer  with  the  joy  of  satisfied  hate. 

"  Ha,  ha  !  my  poor  buck,"  said  he  in  a  delighted  tone,  "  so  you're  winged  at 
last,  you  who  are  so  fond  of  cuffing  your  comrades  !  You  are  pretty  far  gone, 
that's  a  fact!  I  don't  think  you'll  kick  up  anymore  fusses!  You're  losing 
your  blood,  my  friend,  and  if  this  keeps  on,  you  won't  have  a  single  drop  ir. 
five  minutes  more.  Small  loss  !" 

The  Big  Norman  was  about  to  put  a  stop  to  these  taunts  by  a  blow  with  his 
huge  fist,  but  a  dreadfully  poignant  twitch  in  his  shoulder  prevented  him  and 
kspt  his  arm  down  by  his  side. 

The  Doctor  had  come  by  this  time,  and  ordered  his  patient  to  be  brought 
nearer  the  fire  for  him  to  examine  him. 

He  was  obeyed. 

The  Doctor,  taking  off  the  wounded  man's  coat,  opened  his  box  of  instru 
ments  and  searched  for  the  proper  probes. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  119 

The  captain  turned  away  Miid  had  nearly  fallen  into  a  new  train  of  reflections, 
when  a  loud  noise  arose  in  the  direction  of  the  fire. 

Laughs  and  cheers  in  derision  were  to  be  distinguished. 

To  the  leader's  astonishment,  the  Norman  was  seen  to  jump  up  to  his  feet 
and  fall  half  naked  upon  his  teasers. 

The  eminent  Physician  of  the  Scorchers  himself,  forgot  the  importance  and 
dignity  of  that  station  and  joined  in  the  hilarity. 

"  What  means  all  this  ?    demanded  Captain  Henri,  advancing  to  the  scene. 

"  It  means,  captain,"  said  Sailor  Boy  after  a  side-splitting  peal  of  merriment, 
**  that  the  gun  that  hit  the  big  baby  was  only  loaded  with  pepper  and  Salt." 

"The  wounds  smart/'  added  the  Doctor,  "  but  they  are  mere  flea-bites." 

The  wounded  man  was  glaring  in  rage  and  shame  at  the  circle  of  merry  faces. 

"  We'll,  never  want  provisions  while  we  have  the  Norman  in  salt !"  cried  one. 

"  A  pretty  pickle  he  is  in,"  shouted  another. 

"  Well  peppered,  indeed !"  was  the  roar  of  a  third. 

"  Salted  shoulder !"  chorussed  a  dozen. 

"  A  bucket  of  water  to  make  him  fresh  again  !" 

Meanwhile,  after  the  chief  had  silenced  the  tormentors,  he  questioned  the 
wounded  man. 

"  Ha !"  said  he  when  he  had  heard  all,  "  the  kid  reported  that  the  farmer  was 
to  market.  Hunt  up  that  boy  we  call  Little  Lad  (le  Petit  Garr).  I  want  to 
see  him." 

The  youth,  one  of  the  spies  of  the  second  class,  had  indeed  played  false. 

When  sent  on  the  errand  of  finding  out  all  about  the  farmhouse  in  question, 
he  had  found  the  traveling  too  cold  and  had  skulked  around  in  the  warmest 
holes  in  the  quarries  till  he  had  pretended  to  return,  and  had  said  the  coast  was 
clear. 

"  If  I  go  to  old  Crosspatch's  farm,"  he  had  reasoned  in  his  childish  way. 
"  they'll  set  the  dogs  on  me.  I'll  go  and  hide  in  the  Greenstone  Cave  and  roll 
rocks  for  him.  Then  I'll  come  back  and  swear  that  there's  not  a  soul  at  the 
place.  They  can  go  and  make  sure  of  it  themselves,  if  they  like.  Curse  'urn  ! 
they're  all  the  time  quarrelling  and  have  made  my  mother  hide  herself  away 
off  from  here.  I'll  trick  'um  out  of  spite." 

This  he  had  done. 

He  was  soon  found,  being  in  the  thicket,  gnawing  a  piece  of  bread,  and  laugh 
ing  with  the  laughers  at  the  Norman. 

It  was  only  when  he  felt  the  heavy  hand  of  the  Sailor  Boy  on  his  shoulder 
that  he  began  to  fear. 

But  he  uttered  no  word  and  offered  no  resistance  to  being  brought  before  the 
chief. 

lie,  though  the  youngest  and  weakest  of  the  band,  was  too  hardened  to  beat 
ings  to  be  much  afraid. 

The  captain  darted  an  angry  look  down  on  him. 

"  You  have  disobeyed  me,"  said  he,  "  you  have  lied  and  you've  led  to  one  of 
my  plans  being  crossed.  Do  you  deny  it "?" . 

The  little  fellow  trembled,  but  he  tried  to  clear  himself  by  effrontery. 

"  Pooh  !  it  was  only  for  the  fun  of  the  thing." 

"  Ha !  do  you  acknowledge  having  made  a  false  report  about  the  farm  in 
the  hollow  ?" 

"  It  was  a  joke — the  Big  Norman  was  only  shot  with  salt !" 

"  He  might  have  been  slain,  as  you  deserve  to  be.  But  you  are  young  and 
I  may  spare  you.  Your  mother  Fanchette  the  Tall  has  disappeared  from  our 
midst.  Do  you  know  where  she  is  ?" 

"  No,  I  don't,"  replied  the  boy,  affecting  stupidity. 

'*  Come,  speak  out,  or  else " 


120  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California]  ; 

The  youngster  laughed  in  the  speaker's  face  and  made  a  face  sc  comic  that 
the  audacity  of  it  rather  than  its  risibility  caused  a  smile  and  even  j  smothered 
laugh  to  appear  on  the  faces  of  the  brigands. 

But  they  were  hushed  and  the  boy  was  alarmed  at  the  possible  c<  ^sequences 
of  his  temerity. 

For  the  handsome  tace  of  Henri  had  grown  livid,  he  uttered  a  kii  d  of  growl 
and  felt  in  his  girdle  for  a  pistol  which  he  cocked. 

The  youth  twisted  himself  out  of  the  Sailor  Boy's  arms,  and  began  nimbly 
running  towards  the  thicket,  screaming : 

"  Mother,  mother !  help  !" 

Several  of  the  brigands  who  might  have  intercepted  his  flight,  were  too  much 
astounded  to  do  so. 

Alone,  the  bandit  chief  dashed  into  the  foliage  like  a  tiger  infuriated. 

They  both  disappeared  in  the  shadows. 

Active  as  was  the  terrible  leader,  perhaps  he  could  not  have  overtaken  the 
child,  winged  by  fright  as  the  latter  was,  over  the  rough  ground,  easier  for  the 
lesser  than  for  the  greater  runner. 

If  the  former  had  had  the  idea  of  dropping  noiselessly  behind  some  bush,  he 
would  have  escaped  the  pursuer's  wrath  for  the  present  at  least. 

But  as  he  was  in  a  species  of  fit,  he  ran  straight  on  and  continued  to  scream 
in  his  shrill  voice : 

"  Mother,  mother !  help,  help,  my  mother  !" 

The  explosion   of  a  firearm  resounded  in  the  wood,  and  was  followed  by  a 

heart-rending  shriek,  more  powerful  than  the  boy  could  have  uttered. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  * 

In  the  centre  of  a  natural  clearing,  lighted  by  the  rising  moon  which  cast  a  long 
coffin-shaped  beam  on  the  group,  Henri  the  Handsome,  his  pistol  still  in  his 
grasp,  but  the  hammer  down  in  the  powder-blued  pan,  was  gazing  on  the  boy's 
body  dead  at  his  feet. 

A  woman,  with  disheveled  hair  and  torn  garments  was  kneeling  over  the 
corpse,  crying  : 
•  "  Henri,  you  have  killed  our  son !" 

There  she  fainted,  bathing  her  face  in  the  blood  of  the  child  born  in  guilt, 
dead  in  crime ! 

The  chilliness  of  the  morning  brought  her  to  herself,  and  she  rose  benumbed 
by  the  night's  cold. 

Her  mind  seemed  to  have  gone  on  thinking  while  she  had  been  in  the  swoon 
for  she  was  resolved  when  she  awoke. 

She  disrobed  the  body  partly,  carefully  put  aside  the  clothes,  and  more  care 
fully  placed  the  remains  in  a  hole  in  the  rock  which  she  built  over  with  stones 

On  the  rude  pile  she  placed  a  plainly  made  cross,  murmured  what  she  re 
membered  of  a  prayer  over  it  and  stood  up,  the  little  packet  of  clothes  in  her 
shawl. 

She  looked  towards  the  camp  of  the  Scorchers,  felt  that  a  small  pocket-pistol 
was  safe  in  her  bosom,  and  turned  away,  thinking : 

"  I  will  bid  mother  good-bye  first,  and  then  !  then,  will  I  die  at  his  feet !" 

She  began  to  thread  the  crossing  paths  of  the  forest. 

But  she  had  miscalculated  her  forces. 

The  hard  ground,  too,  was  so  unlike  the  elastic  grass  of  summer  that  her 
stiffened  limbs  soon  tired. 

Still  she  toiled  on. 

Her  clothes  were  very  scant  against  such  a  morning's  rigor. 

To  add  to  all,  when  she  had  arrived  in  the  more  open  country,  a  fine  hard 
snow  was  falling  which  pricked  the  exposed  face  like  so  many  needles. 

So  hard  was  it  that  the  grains  would  not  adhere  to  one  another  like  flaked 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  121 

do,  and,  far  from  uniformity  covering  the  ground,  collected  in  ridges  and  heaps. 

On  she  toiled. 

Captain  Vasseur  had  been  out  that  night,  or  rather  morning,  with  many  of 
ais  men,  though  only  two  were  yet  with  him,  for  the  news  of  the  robbers  having 
0een  beaten  olF  the  farm  and  the  Big  Norman  being  shot  had  been  received  by 
him  and  he  had  thought  he  might  be  able  to  pick  up  the  winged  bird. 

He  had  different  luck. 

As  the  three  rode  along,  they  espied  coming  towards  them  a  countryman, 
whose  three-cornered  hat  was  pulled  over  his  eyes  against  the  sleet,  for  the 
riders  brought  the  wind  with  them. 

When  they  first  descried  him,  he  was  a  mere  black  speck  on  the  white. 

But  as  soon  as  he  caught  sight  of  the  horsemen,  which  happened  after  awhile, 
he  did  not  appear  to  be  in  any  hurry  to  make  their  acquaintance,  for  he  stopped 
and,  after  a  look,  dropped  behind  a  hillock,  perhaps  trusting  that  he  had  not 
been  remarked. 

But  Captain  Vasseur  had  observed  this  suspicious  proceeding. 

"  Spur  !"  ordered  he. 

Off  the  three  went  at  a  fast  trot. 

Seeing  himself  discovered,  the  suspected  man  rose  and  cut  across  the  fields  to 
throw  the  mounted  men  off  his  track. 

"  Keep  on  his  heels,"  commanded  the  officer ;  u  Fll  remain  in  the  road  and 
prevent  him  taking  to  it  again,  as  he  may." 

As  he  rode  along,  he  suddenly  perceived  a  kind  of  dark  blot  in  the  middle 
of  the  highway  on  ahead. 

It  was  a  woman  lying  motionless  and  half  covered  with  the  drift  of  icy  par 
ticles. 

He  reined  in. 

"  Halloa  !  are  you  asleep,  my  good  woman  !" 

Finding  no  signs  of  life,  he  dismounted  and  acquired  certainty  that  the  poor 
woman  was  senseless  and  in  a  fair  way  to  lose  life. 

She  presented  a  wretched  aspect :  her  feet  torn  through  her  tattered  shoes, 
bled  slowly  upon  the  ice ;  her  walking-stick  had  fallen  from  her  one  hand, 
while  the  other  and  its  arm  stiffly  encircled  a  small  bundle. 

The  sleet  did  not  melt  on  her  face  or  form. 

By  temperament  as  well  as  by  profession,  Captain  Vasseur  was  not  easily 
affected,  yet  he  could  not  help  great  compassion  moving  him  on  beholding  the 
poor  creature's  deplorable  condition. 

He  leaned  over  her  with  interest,  shook  her  and  called  her  in  vain. 

She  did  once  open  her  eyelids  the  least  bit,  but  almost  instantly  closed  them 
in  that  slumber  of  death  by  cold. 

As  the  officer  knew  now  that  she  breathed  still,  he  hastened  to  wrap  her  up  in 
his  ample  riding-cloak,  and  forced  a  few  drops  of  brandy  between  her  set  teeth. 

He  alone,  and  there,  could  not  altogether  accomplish  the  resuscitation. 

He  looked  around  him. 

His  companions  were  far  off,  still  pursuing  the  three-cornered  hat. 

Besides,  they  would  not  have  been  of  any  utility  under  the  circumstances. 

Fortunately,  not  very  distant  from  the  spot,  was  a  little  cabin  hidden  in  the 
leafless  brush,  yet  denoted  by  the  smoke  curling  out  of  the  chimney. 

Its  ragged  straw  thatch  indicated  rfo  great  wealth,  but  Vasseur  did  not  hesi 
tate  to  take  up  the  unconscious  woman  and  stride  up  to  the  cottage,  as  rapidly 
as  his  heavy  boots  with  his  spurs  would  let  him. 

His  horse  followed  him  like  the  well-trained  steed  he  was. 

The  house  was  very  comfortable,  after  all,  on  a  nearer  view. 

The  garden  had  been  well  under  cultivation. 

Beehives  were  carefully  sheltered  by  a  wall,  a  goat,  tied  up,  was  bleating 
and  a  cow  was  bellowing  in  the  stable. 


122  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  f 

Vasseui  tied  up  his  horse  to  the  palings  and  walked  into  the  cottage  without 
knocking. 

An  old  woman  was  within  slowly  turning  a  spinning-wheel. 

On  seeing  what  had  happened  and  being  instructed  by  the  officer's  sharp 
words,  she  sprang  up  and  cheerfully  enlarged  the  fire,  made  a  hot  posset  of 
wine. 

On  coming  to  chafe  and  warm  the  poor  woman's  hands,  she  uttered  a  loud 
scream,  which  astonished  the  captain. 

"  Fanchette,  Fanchette !  Good  heavens,  my  daughter  !"  cried  she,  falling  on 
her  knees,  "  She  was  dying,  and  you  bring  her  to  me,  to  me  !  How  strange  ! 
See,  she's  coming  to — she  opens  her  eyes !"  continued  the  old  woman.  *'  She 
lives  !" 

In  fact,  Fanchette's  features  lost  their  pallor  by  degrees  and  she  became 
more  and  more  animated. 

But  there  was  a  fear  that  the  sudden  reaction  would  give  her  a  fever. 

They  put  her  to  bed  with  all  the  blankets  on  her. 

The  captain  had  meantime  examined  the  bundle,  "which  contained  a  boy's 
clothes. 

He  believed  for  a  moment  that  they  had  been  stolen,  poor  as  they  were,when 
a  weak  voice  raved  from  under  the  coverings : 

"  My  boy,  iny  son  !  where  are  you  ?  Oh,  he  killed  him  because  he  would 
not  steal !" 

These  words,  betokening  a  return  of  sense  but  not  of  command  over  the 
brain,  struck  the  mother  with  alarm  and  the  officer  with  suspicion  and  amaze 
ment. 

"  She's  mad  !  she's  mad  !"  cried  the  old  woman  quickly.  "  Her  boy  di*>4 
long  ago  when  a  babe." 

But  Franchette  had  sat  up  and  looking  at  Captain  Vasseur  turning  o\er  the 
contents  of  the  bundle,  said  earnestly. 

"  Please,  please  don't  touch  'em,  sir.  They're  all  that's  left  of  my  good  little 
child  !" 

"  The  deuce !  Ha !  a  babe  wear  the  clothes  of  a  boy  of  twelve  !"  cried  Vas 
seur. 

What  he  would  next  have  done  is  doubtful,  but  whatever  his  intended  move, 
he  was  interrupted  by  hasty  footfalls  heard  outside. 

The  back  door  of  the  cottage  opened,  and  in  rushed  a  man,  with  just  enough 
breath  to  gasp  : 

"  Kind  folks,  I  am  hunted.     Don't  give  me  up  !" 

Vasseur  promptly  caught  him  by  the  collar  and  said : 

"  One  moment,  my  man.     I  want  a  talk  with  you." 

Nothing  could  equal  the  stupor  of  the  stranger  on  perceiving  his  leap  fron* 
the  frying-pan  into  the  fire. 

But  he  tried  to  escape  nevertheless. 

The  officer's  hold  was  too  good  and  his  hand  too  strong  for  that  to  be  accom 
plished. 

The  Red-Eyed  of  Borgny,  for  this  was  the  companion  of  the  Big  Norman 
found  that  cunning  was  his  only  resource. 

He  sat  down  on  a  stool  beside  the  captain  with  affected  resignation. 

"  Good  heavens  !  citizen  officer,  what  can  you  want  with  me,  hunting  me  ovej 
the  country  as  you  have.  I  am  a  poor  inoffensive  soul,  who  cannot  guess  whj 
I  am  so  troubled.  Here's  my  paper." 

He  handed  Vasseur  a  greasy  scrip,  which  the  latter  scarcely  deigned  a  glance. 

"  Oh,  I  suppose  it's  all  right,  my  good  Germain  Bouscant,  otherwise  the  Red- 
Eyed  of  Borgny,  who  called  at  the  farm  in  the  hollow  last  night  along  with 


a 

'he  start  of  the  rogue  at  this  abrupt  accusal  confirmed  its  truth. 


gigantic  knave." 
T 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  123 

"  Look  here,  sirrah,  your  sudden  flight  at  sight  of  our  uniforms  is  proo* 
enough  for  your  being  guilty,  your  character  apart  of  vagabond,  beggar  and 
what  not.  So  I  cannot  let  you  go " 

"  But  I  am  innocent  as  a  lamb." 

"  I  arrest  you  in  the  name  of  the  Law.  It  will  be  better  for  you,"  said  the 
captain,  fixing  his  penetrative  eyes  on  his  shuddering  prisoner,  "  to  cease  your 
useless  lies  and  lamentations  and  gain  the  indulgence  of  the  authorities  by  mak 
ing  a  clean  breast  of  it.  The  government  is  stirring  at  last.  The  National 
Guard  is  arming,  and  the  regulars  are  coming  in  from  all  quarters.  There's  no 
hope  for  the  Scorchers." 

The  brigand  was  shaken,  for  he  knew  this  was  true. 

"  They  are  lost.  The  first  ones  who  come  in  will  be  granted  life,  however 
guilty  they  may  have  been.  Besides,  a  reward  will  be  added  to  whoever  tells 
who  is  the  skilful  chief  of  the  band." 

"  A  reward  ?"  exclaimed  the  Red-Eyed. 

"  A  considerable  sum." 

The  brigand  was  convinced,  and  he  was  about  opening  his  mouth,  when  he 
was  interrupted  by  a  woman's  voice. 

"  Traitor  !  coward  !  liar !  woe  to  you  if  you  sell  him  /" 

The  brigand  looked  at  the  bed. 

"  Hullo  !  Franchette  the  Tall !  and  her  mother  Old  Caduque  1  What  does 
this  mean?" 

"  It  means  that  you  had  better  be  quick,  or  others  will  forestall  you,"  inter 
polated  the  officer  quickly. 

"  No,  no,  he  lies !"  screamed  Franchette,  struggling  with  her  wrappings  and 
her  mother.  "  I  won't  betray  him!  He  has  led  to  all  my  shame  and  agony  ! 
he  hates  me  and  has  killed  my  boy  !  but  I  won't  betray  him,  and  won't  have 
anybody  else  do  it !  I  have  loved  him  and  love  him  still  !" 

"  You  speak  of  a  murdered  child,"  said  Captain  Vasseur,  "  avenge  him  by " 

"  Peace !  Cut  me  in  bits — you  shall  not  know  him.  My  poor,  poor  little 
one !" 

Meanwhile,  Germain  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  Franchette  would  let 
out  the  secret  in  her  ravings,  if  not  wittingly,  determined  on  his  course. 

"  My  word  of  honor  for  what  I  promise,"  said  the  officer. 

"  Well,  then,"  began  the  traitor,  "  I  will  reveal  all  about  our  association.  To 
begin  with  and  to  prove  my  knowledge,  the  leader,  the  Chief  of  the  Scorchers 
is  known  to  us  as  Henri  the  Handsome,  to  the  world, as " 

A  sharp  crack  of  a  pistol  echoed  in  the  room,  and  the  speaker,  with  one  eye 
sightless,  for  therein  the  tiny  bullet  had  buried  itself,  fell  into  the  officer's  arms, 
dead. 

The  smoke  filled  the  room. 

There  was  a  contused  moment. 

Captain  Vasseur  made  a  spring  to  seize  the  slayer,  but  it  was  the  old  mother 
and  not  Fanchette  that  he  grasped. 

The  door  opened  and  a  cold  blast  rushed  in  while  the  mistress  of  the  bandit 
leader  flew  out. 

In  another  moment,  'a  clatter  of  hoofs  were  audible. 

"  The  devil !"  thundered  the  officer,  flinging  from  him  the  old  woman,  who 
rolled  over  the  dead  traitor. 

And  he  dashed  into  the  open  air. 

On  one  side  approached  his  two  soldiers ;  on  the  other  disappeared,  on  her 
horse,  the  fevered  Fanchette,  riding  at  full  speed. 

"  No  use  chasing  !"  said  he,  seeing  that  she  was  country-girl  enough  to  have 
acquired  tolerable  horsemanship.  "  Give  me  your  horse  ,  Bandoni,  while  you 
arrest  an  old  woman  inside  this  house  and  see  if  a  man  is  dead." 

The  man  was  dead. 


124  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California); 

But  if  he  was  not  to  reveal  the  important  secrets,  another  took  his  place. 

Old  Caduque,  on  promise  of  mercy  being  extended  to  her  child,  began  to 
make  known  her  acquaintance  with  the  band  of  Orgares,  as  she  rode  in  front  of 
the  captain. 

The  chase  was  really  begun  at  this  moment. 

Darkness  was  again  upon  the  forest. 

Its  edge  was  being  penetrated  by  a  large  body  of  soldiers,  horse  and  foot, 
under  command  of  Captain  Vasseur,  who  guided  his  little  army  in  accordance 
with  what  he  had  learnt  from  Old  Caduque. 

It  was  a  difficult  task,  and  many  a  time  he  had  almost  given  it  up. 

But  at  last,  the  appearance  of  a  changing  red  glimmer  gave  all  heart. 

"The  fire  of  the  wretches'  camp,"  said  he,  aloud.  "  Cautious,  now,  men! 
The  curses  of  all  honest  men  befal  him  who  is  hindmost  at  this  pinch  !" 

The  brigands  were  in  their  great  cavern,  on  account  of  the  cold. 

A  fire  burned  before  its  large  mouth  to  heat  the  air  that  entered  it. 

They  were  all  up  and  excitement,  for  not  only  had  the  news  that  Fanchette 
had  brought  on  the  stolen  horse  been  confirmed  by  spies,  but  the  last  arrival 
had  told  of  the  approaching  army,  and  of  the  complete  confession  of  Old  Ca 
duque. 

Fanchette  was  pardoned  by  the  chief  for  her  services  and  she  had  gone  to 
sleep  in  a  corner,  almost  happy. 

The  Iright  of  the  villains  knew  no  bounds. 

They  would  have  rushed  out  of  the  cave,  but  that  Captain  Henri  stood  be 
tween  them  and  the  aperture. 

"  Let  none  of  ye  stir !"  said  he,  growling  in  rage.  "  You're  a  pack  of  cowards ! 
Do  you  dare  go  against  your  leader's  will  T' 

He  drew  a  brace  of  pistols. 

"  I'll  unroof  the  skull  of  the  first  who  rebels  !" 

He  thought  they  were  more  of  soldiers  ;  they  were  mere  cut-throats. 

His  attitude  silenced  their  murmurings,  and  he  endeavored  to  overawe  or 
decide  them  again. 

But  they  were  listening  not  to  him,  but  to  the  tramp  of  armed  men  which 
they  fancied  they  heard. 

Time  was  too  precious  for  such  hesitation  to  be  prolonged. 

As  the  commander  paused,  exhausted  by  his  own  vehemence,  Sailor  Boy 
made  himself  spokesman  and  began : 

"  Let  us  go,  captain  !  You  see  we're  a  demoralized  set !  We'll  be  nabbed 
at  a  swoop  with  all  this  palaver." 

"  Yes,  yes  !  aye,  aye !  speak  to  him,  Sailor  !"  vociferated  the  farthermost  of 
the  crowd. 

"  But  /  will  not  have  you  scatter  like  thistle-seed  !     Am  I  not  your  chief?" 

"  Oh,  that's  all  bosh — our  gang's  broken  up,"  returned  Sailor  Boy,  embolden 
ed  by  the  nudges  and  pattings  on  the  shoulder  that  he  received.  "  Come  now, 
stash  that !  our  lives  go  ahead  of  our  laws  !" 

"  Hur — !"  they  began  to  cheer. 

But  Henri's  voice  broke  in. 

"  By  all  the  horns  of  the  devil,  here  you  go  on  a  voyage,  my  Sailor  Boy  !" 

His  pistol  shot  tore  the  ear  of  the  rebel,  and  entered  the  throat  of  the  man 
behind  him. 

The  brigand  chief,  changed  his  exploded  weapon  for  the  other,  but  he  was 
not  let  use  it. 

They  rushed  upon  him  altogether  and  upset  him  in  a  twinkling,  notwith 
standing  the  increase  of  his  natural  powers  by  fury. 

A  blanket  was  spread  over  his  face  to  prevent  him  seeing  who  were  the 
principals  in  the  revolution  of  time-honored  authority  and  many  hands  held 
him  down. 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  125 

He  struggled  fruitlessly. 

At  length,  he  felt  the  many  grasps  relax  and  be  removed,  but  he  was  bound 
hand  and  foot  with  ropes. 

His  assailants  were  moving  away. 

He  attempted  to  break  free,  but  unsuccessfully. 

In  a  little  while,  a  small  hand  impatiently  cut  his  bonds  and  pulled  off  the 
cloth  blindfolding  him. 

It  was  Fanchette. 

He  paid  little  attention  to  her,  for  his  rage  overcame  his  gratitude. 

The  pistol  which  he  had  not  fired  off,  lay  on  the  ground,  as  if  no  one  had 
dared  to  touch  it. 

He  caught  it  up,  rushed  through  the  opening  and  leaped  over  the  dying  fire. 

Only  a  few  boys  and  old  women  were  in  the  neighborhood,  and  they  were 
unworthy  of  his  vengeance. 

"  Henri,  Henri !"  screamed  Fanchette,  "  what  are  you  going  to  do  ?" 

But  he  had  seen  his  men  running  off  or  mounting  stolen  horses  which  they 
had  taken  out  of  the  stable-cave. 

"  Cowards !  only  wait !"  roared  he  more  like  a  wild  beast  than  a  human 
being. 

"The  chief!"  exclaimed  the  Sailor  Boy  in  terror.  "  Confound  whoever  let 
him  loose !" 

Off  they  spurred,  the  shot  following  them  uselessly. 

All  of  a  sudden,  like  echoes  to  that  report,  detonations  broke  the  stillness  on 
several  sides  of  the  wood. 

After  a  few  minutes,  some  of  the  bandit  on  foot  began  to  return  to  the  haunt, 
while  the  musketry  began  to  rattle. 

The  soldiers  had  surrounded  the  wood. 

Henri  the  Handsome  thought  no  longer  of  punishing  the  rebels,  who,  indeed, 
were  being  summarily  dealt  with. 

He  grasped  Fanchett's  hand  and  the  two  pushed  through  the  underwood,  as 
Captain  Vasseur  and  his  men  beat  back  the  robbers  in  all  quarters. 

The  two  fugitives  managed  to  get  through  the  lines  and  left  the  spot  by 
some  yards,  when  three  soldiers  started  up  before  them. 

"  Halt !"  cried  one.     "  A  move,  and  you  die  !" 

The  brigand  chjef  stopped  but  almost  instantly  sprang  forward. 

The  piece  flashed  in  the  pan. 

He  was  only  a  few  feet  from  the  soldier,  who  attempted  to  club  his  musket, 
but  Henri  was  too  close  and  had  him  by  the  hair. 

He  bent  back  his  head  and  was  about  to  cut  his  throat,  when  the  other  sol 
diers  fired  at  him. 

One  bullet  missed  him,  the  other  only  went  through  and  through  the  cords 
between  the  shoulder  and  the  neck  and  then  struck  Fanchette  in  the  bosom,  as 
she  came  on  to  save  her  lover. 

"  I  forgive — Henri !  my  ch — " 

She  breathed  her  last  as  the  soldiers  pinioned  their  prisoner. 

They  let  her  lie  there  while  they  led  their  captives  to  their  commander. 

The  open  space  in  front  of  the  cave  lighted  up  by  the  fire  which  had  been  re 
plenished,  was  full  of  dead,  dying,  and  bound  bandits,  over  whom  the  soldiers 
stood  triumphant  guard.  As  soon  as  Henri  the  Handsome  could  get  speech, 
he  begged  Captain  Vasseur  te  let  him  see  Peursans  the  magistrate. 

"  Here  he  is,"  said  the  officer  coldly. 

"What  does  the  prisoner  want]"  inquired  the  magistrate  equally  icily. 

"  A  word  in  private,"  answered  Henri,  downcast  considerably  by  this  manner. 

"  What  ?"  said  the  bandit  chief,  turning  pale. 

"  I  am  a  nobody  at  present,"  returned  the  magistrate,  turning  away.  "  Cap 
tain  Vasseur  is  about  to  take  you  to  Chartres." 


126  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

"  Not  till  I  repay  your  affection,  kinsman  of  mine  !"  cried  Henri  the  Hand 
some  with  a  return  of  his  daring  voice  of  old. 

By  strength  as  well  as  by  a  trick  well  known  by  galley  slaves,  the  speaker 
had  freed  his  hands  and  drawn  from  his  clothes  a  little  needle  of  a  dagger  which 
he  had  known  how  to  conceal  from  his  searchers. 

But  his  feet  were  hampered  and  —  though  Peursans  was  unsuspicious —  Cap 
tain  Vasseur  had  been  on  the  alert.  In  an  instant,  the  brigand  was  overpow 
ered  and  disarmed. 

******* 

Notwithstanding  the  thinning  out  by  jail-fever  which  visited  the  numerous 
culprits,  and  several  escapes,  eighty  shot  was  the  number  of  the  Band  of  Scorch 
ers  brought  to  trial  and  to  sentence  of  death  and  imprisonment. 

Of  the  twenty-three  who  were  adjudged  to  the  extreme  penalty,  the  chief  was 
naturally  the  foremost. 

He  died  "  handsomely,"  as  the  French  criminals  who  envy  his  daring  life, 
jestingly  say  to  this  day. 


CHAPTER    XXV 

TURN   PIRATE. SAN   FRANCISCO. HOW    GARCIA   SPENT   HIS   TIME. 

ONE  Sunday  morning,  very  fine,  as  the  bells  were  calling  Catholics  to  mass 
and  the  no-religionists  to  amusements,  and  the  men,  generally  fresh  shaven  and 
in  their  "  store-clothes,"  were  mustering  at  the  corners  to  watch  the  women 
pass  and  criticise  feet  and  ankles,  they  saw  a  man  go  by  who  was  a  stranger. 

He  was  a  good-looking  young  man  of  black  eyes  and  hair,  which  floated 
dow*i  his  shoulders.  He  rode  along  tranquilly,  regarding  with  indifference  even 
such  things  as  demanded  inspection.  He  was  so  richly  attired,  and  bestrode  a 
horse  so  good  and  so  elegantly  bedecked  that  he  was  the  cynosure  ere  long  of 
all  eyes  and  the  subject  of  general  remarks. 

"  Handsome  !  Look  at  him  !"  murmured  the  ladies.  "  Some  young  Mexi 
can  noble!  General  Vallejo's  son !  No,  the  general  has  no  son." 

"  I  swear !  he  is  gallus  !"  said  a  New  Yorker. 

"  I  reckon  that  chap  will  dew  !"  remarked  a  Bay  State  man. 

"  Thunder !  couldn't  shine  more  if  he  had  a  plantation  to  back  him  !"  observed 
a  Southerner. 

The  young  horseman,  apparently  unconscious  of  having  drawn  all  eyes  upon 
him,  drew  rein  suddenly  on  passing  before  a  board  fence  on  which  were  posted 
several  handbills.  One  of  them,  more  prominent  than  the  others  of  "  Great 
Bargains  !  New  York  Goods  at  Cost !  French  Silk  Scarfs,  all  colors  !"  was 
thus  lettered: 

$5,000.— REWARD.— $5,000. 

Five  thousand  dollars  Reward  to  whoever  delivers  to  the  authorities, 

JOAQUIN, 

DEAD    OR    ALIVE  ! 

The  Mexican  cavalier  had  no  sooner  read  this  than  he  leaped  off  his  horse, 
drew  out  a  lead  pencil,  scribbled  rather  leisurely  some  words  on  the  foot  of  the 
bill  and  rode  on  as  quietly  as  if  he  had  not  stopped.  A  dozen  people,  urged  by 
curiosity,  hastened  up  to  the  fence  to  see  what  had  been  written,  and  they  read : 

"  I'll  give  ten  thousand  dollars,  JOAQUIN." 

Fancy  the  exclamations  of  astonishment  which  hailed  this  sight.  Nothing 
was  spoken  about  throughout  the  week  except  this  event,  at  least  among  tho 
ladies. 

Every  one  of  them  had  remarked,  "  a  something,  my  dear,  about  his  eyes," 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  127 

that  was  suspicious,  and  according  to  their  account,  as  they  had  known  Joaquin 
from  the  first,  he  owed  his  safety  to  a  silence  not  generally  classed  with  their 
gifts. 

The  daredevil  freak  in  which  the  outlaw  had  indulged,  did  not  prevent  him 
returning  to  the  town  every  now  and  then  in  different  disguises,  to  learn  per 
sonally  what  was  going  on. 

He  found  out  one  evening  that  a  little  craft  was  going  to  leave  Stockton  for 
San  Francisco,  at  a  certain  hour. 

A  couple  of  miners  from  Campo  Seco  in  Calaveras  County,  were  the  pas 
sengers,  bearing  with  them  the  gold  which  they  purposed  enjoying  in  the  States. 

Joaquin  took  with  him  three  of  his  men  whom  he  found  roving  about  the 
city  and,  getting  into  a  small  boat,  they  shoved  off  and  proceeded  to  hide  them 
selves  in  the  tule  rushes  under  one  bank. 

The  musquitoes  were  so  plaguing  that  it  almost  made  him  give  up  the  plan 
but,  on  reflecting,  the  perspective  of  a  magnificent  gain  made  him  persevere  in 
his  original  idea. 

He  regretted  that  none  of  them  had  brought  matches,  for  then  they  might 
have  kindled  a  fire  to  drive  off  the  gallinippers,  and  he  was  on  the  point  of 
flashing  some  powder  and  thus  procuring  fire  when  the  fear  of  the  flames  being 
descried,  annulled  that  scheme. 

Three  long,  long  hours  crawled  by. 

At  length,  they  espied  the  sloop,  which,  very  crank,  leaned  over  daintily  and 
brushed  the  ripple  gently  though  rapidly. 

When  she  had  approached  the  ambush,  on  which  she  nearly  bore  during  a 
tack,  the  waiters  pushed  out,  reached  the  side  of  the  vessel  just  when  her  crew 
of  two  were  busy  holding  the  helm  and  foresheet  respectively  .when  she  went 
about,  and  fired  at  them. 

They  dropped  disabled  or  dead,  on  the  deck. 

At  the  ominous  sounds  of  the  detonation  and  of  the  double  fall,  the  two  pas 
sengers  rushed  out  of  the  little  cabin,  weapon  in  hand. 

But  the  conflict  was  unequal. 

The  six  shots  rang  out  almost  together,  two  of  Joaquin's  men  were  slain,  but 
three  bullets  entered  one  of  the  miners  and  another  the  other,  and  they  breathed 
their  last. 

Joaquin  and  his  surviving  comrade  relieved  the  corpses  of  their  belts  of 
gold  and  valuables,  and,  finding  some  matches  in  the  cabin,  set  fire  to  the  sloop, 
after  lashing  fast  the  helm  and  letting  the  sails  down  by  the  run. 

When  the  morning  came,  there  was  no  trace  of  the  crime  to  speak  of;  a 
scorched  hulk  lay  at  the  bottom  of  the  stream  and  the  earth  began  to  cake  up 
against  it  to  form  another  bar,  some  tinder  had  been  blown  into  the  woods  and 
even  kindled  a  pitchy  bough  here  and  there,  some  rope  twined  and  lashed 
about  in  the  eddy,  and  bits  of  wood,  a  sweep  and  a  water-breaker  bobbed  up 
and  down  on  the  current,  and  that  was  all. 

Twelve  thousand  dollars  was  in  the  hands  of  the  robbers. 

On  the  next  day,  after  having  sent  Three-fingered  Jack  to  the  head-quarters 
with  four  more  men,  Murieta  took  Valenzuela  with  him  to  Sacramento. 

They  stayed  there  about  a  week  before  sailing  to  San  Francisco,  where  they 
arrived  at  about  eleven  in  the  evening. 

They  slashed  through  the  bad  streets  and  gloom,  until  they  had  come  to  a 
house  in  Pacific  Street  near  Dupont. 

At  the  door  they  thundered  for  all  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  when  it  was 
opened  a  little. 

"  Who  is  there  ]"  whispered  a  voice. 

"  Friends,  Senor- Blanco,"  was  the  reply,  "  good  friends,  too  !" 

"  Oh,  I  recognize  you,  my  paysanos,"  returned  the  voice ;  "  come  in,  come 
in !  I've  been  expecting  you  some  time  !" 


128  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California}  ; 

"  You  don't  say  ?"  queried  Valenzuela,  entering  after  his  superior,  while 
Sonor  Blanco  closed  the  door  behind  them  and  carefully  fastened  it.  "  How 
could  you  be  expecting  us  when  you  are  no  magician  to  see  into  the  future." 

"  Unless  you  have  had  a  visit  of  Old  Nick  from  Monte  Diablo  yonder/ 
added  Joaquin. 

"  No,  no,  nothing  of  that  sort.  My  information  ^came  from  no  other  devi 
than  one  of  your  company.  Come  along  and  I  will  s'how  you  the  man  himself, 
though  I  hardly  think  he  will  recognize  you  as  easily,  for  he  has  been  dead 
drunk  during  the  last  forty-eight  hours.  A  rough  customer  he  is  !  When  I 
heard  you  knock,  I  thought  you  were  the  enemy  and  I  made  a  shift  to  arouse 
him,  which  kept  you  waiting  so  long." 

"  Very  well ;  but  who  is  this  man  of  ours?"  inquired  the  captain. 

"  Come  and  see  for  yourselves,"  answered  Blanco.  "  This  way — here  we 
are.  Here's  the  door  !  I  ain't  surprised  that  you  don't  know  my  house  when 
you  have  not  been  here  for  so  long.  It  has  been  burnt  down  since  then,  too, 
but  I  had  it  rebuilt  pretty  nearly  the  same  way.  There's  the  man  now  !" 

Joaquin  and  his  lieutenant  had  entered  a  rather  large  room.  They  stopped 
and  looked  around. 

"  Where  ?" 

«  Why,  on  the  floor."' 

The  captain  took  the  lamp  off  the  table  and  held  it  over  a  recumbent  form. 

"  It's  Garcia  !  he  here  !"  exclaimed  he,  starting  back. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Blanco.  "  He  told  me  that  you  ordered  him  to  go  to  the 
main  rendezvous,  but  as  he  had  some  money  in  his  pocket  he  came  here  to  go 
on  the  *  tear.' " 

"  Let's  see  if  he  cannot  be  awakened,"  said  Valenzuela. 

He  went  up  to  the  drunkard  and  gave  him  sundry  shoves  and  blows  which, 
far  from  producing  the  anticipated  effect,  only  drew  from  the  three-fingered  cut 
throat  deep  growls  and  broken  oaths  !  "  Cara —  or  Caram — " 

Knowing  that  watching  Garcia  was  out  of  the  question,  and  yet  fearing,  if 
his  actions  were  not  circumscribed  that  he  would  compromise  them,  Joaquin 
took  the  course  of  avoiding  him  as  much  as.  was  possible  while  he  should  be  in 
the  city.  , 

For  this  purpose,  he  bought  a  tent  and  put  it  up  on  one  of  the  hillocks  not 
far  from  the  Fremont  House,  near  Battery  and  Vallejo  Streets. 

Every  night,  he  and  Valenzuela  left  their  retreat  to  go  the  rounds  of  the 
Bella  Union,  Diana,  El  Dorado  and  other  exhibition-places  of  the  tiger  to  be 
fought.  They  lost  and  won  piles  of  gold  with  a  calmness  and  good  humor 
even  which  delighted  the  lookers-on,  players  or  mere  "lunchers"  on  the  spread 
side-boards,  and  the  bankers  themselves,  who  are  not,  as  everybody  knows  who 
has  tilted  on  the  field  of  the  cloth  of  green,  the  most  impressionable  of  men. 

One  evening  as  the  pair  were  sauntering  into  the  Bella  Union,  and  about  to 
take  seats  at  a  faro-table,  their  attention  was  suddenly  drawn  to  another  table, 
round  which  were  packing  a  great  number  of  the  curious  to  see  an  interesting 
game  of  monte.  They  stepped  over  to  it,  too,  and  beheld  Mr.  Mannet  Garcia, 
otherwise  Three-fingered  Jack,  facing  them,  with  five  or  six-  thousand  dollars 
before  him. 

He  had  just  lost  about  the  same  sum,  and  the  banker  was  unconcernedly 
shuffling  the  cards  for  a  fresh  game. 

Out  came  a  king  and  a  deuce  which  he  placed  side  by  side  on  the  board. 

Jack,  without  hesitation,  staked  all  he  had  on  the  court  card.  The  dealer 
continued  to  throw  out  the  cards,  and  took  in  the  two-spot ;  in  a  few  seconds 
all  was  over. 

The  rake  encircled  and  pulled  away  the  pile  of  gold  before  the  player,  without 
the  least  symptom  of  a  smile  appearing  on  the  banker's  cheek. 

Nor  did  the  loser  express  any  more  emotion.     He  called  for  a  glass  of 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  129 

brandy,  swallowed  it  down  to  the  last  two  drops  and  went  out  of  the  saloon 
without  having  spoken  a  word. 

The  captain  and  his  companion  had  not  been  remarked  by  him. 

They  remained  an  hour  or  so  in  the  place,  going  from  table  to  table,  losing  a 
good  deal  here,  winning  a  very  little  there,  and  had  no  adventure. 

Then  they  proceeded  to  Jackson  Street,  to  a  Mexican  ball  where  they 
found  a  large  assemblage  of  their  countrymen  and  women,  who  were  bobbing 
up  and  down  in  an  atmosphere  of  smoke  and  dust,  to  the  jingling  and  thumping 
of  a  tamborine,  to  the  scraping  of  a  fiddle  and  the  screak  of  a  cracked  flute. 

They  mingled  with  the  throng  and  passed  some  time  there. 

It  was  a  little  after  two  in  tha  morning  when  the  two  bandits  quitted  the  bar 
room  to  return  to  their  canvas  domicile.  Joaquin  had  lost  at  play  so  large  a 
sum  that  his  comrade  and  himself  could  only  find  on  them  a  hundred  dollars, 
an  insignificant  sum  to  men  who  had  in  a  week  at  full  spring  sent  ten  or  twelve 
thousand  dollars  adrift.  Valenzuela  proposed  to  push  on  to  the  San  Jose 
Mission,  where  they  had  an  ally  who  would  not  hesitate  to  loan  them  any 
amount  in  thousands  for  a  fair  interest. 

Joaquin  would  not  follow  this  advice  for  reasons  which  he  had,  and  preferred 
to  return  to  Sacramento,  where  the  horses  had  remained  in  the  keeping  of  one 
Padrillo. 

While  passing  a  shanty  on  the  road,  they  heard  suddenly  a  clamor  of  oaths, 
exclamations  and  bursts  of  laughter. 

They  turned  back  and  went  by,  and  did  this  again  and  again,  until  finally 
hearing  nothing  but  silence,  as  an  Irishman  might  say,  that  made  them  all  the 
more  curious  and  they  stopped  to  listen. 

"  I'll  swear  that  was  Garcia  speaking,"  said  Joaquin,  who  had  especially 
noted  one  of  his  worthy  satellite's  favorite  execrations. 

The  two  began  to  peer  through  a  couple  of  the  many  chinks  in  the  miserably 
put  together  planks  of  the  establishment. 

Thus  they  could  see  pretty  well  a  scene  full  of  interest  to  them,  while  nobody 
within  had  a  thought  of  them. 

Through  the  cloudy  air  of  the  room  full  of  the  vapors  from  forty-rod  rum, 
cheapest  whiskey  and  pipes,  the  witnesses .,  beheld  several  clusters  of  men  each 
around  a  table  of  the  half  dozen,  their  aspect  setting  them  down  with  photo 
graphic  accuracy  as  the  most  depraved  and  vicious  of  off-scourings  of  the  city, 
men,  if  they  deserved  the  title,  ready  for  anything,  and  the  worst  the  better. 

Every  one  of  the  tables  ha  1  its  deck  of  cards,  and  every  individual  had  a  huge 
tin  mug  or  cup,  into  which  he  was  often  pouring  his  ordered  beverage,  the 
chief  being  whatever  poison  it  was  that  was  in  a  couple  of  kegs  in  the  corner. 

A  smouldering  fire  every  now  and  anon  collected  sufficient  energy  to  dart  up  a 
flame  which  danced  around  impishly  on  the  faces  of  the  outcasts,  while  over 
head,  a  half  dozen  ends  of  candles,  cheap  fifty-cent  dips,  sputtered  and  fought 
with  the  thieves  in  their  gutters,  as  if  giving  a  lesson  thus  vigorously  to  quies 
cent  society. 

Between  these  upper  and  lower  regions  of  feeble  illumination,  reigned  a  fog 
that  would  have  delighted  a  Londoner  and  made  his  northern  neighbor  recall 
the  Scotch  mist. 

At  one  of  the  tables,  farthest  from  the  fire,  were  seated  four  of  the  most  vil- 
lanous.  One  was  no  other  than  the  illustrious  Jack  of  the  Three-fingers,  whose 
eyes  were  glaring  most  frightfully.  His  companions  were  Pedro  Sanchez,  Juan 
Borilda  and  Joaquin  Blanco,  all  three  affiliated  to  the  band  in  the  honorable 
office  of  spies,  the.  first  exercising  that  position  around  Stockton  and  Columbia, 
the  second  at  Stockton  and  the  third  at  the  San  Luis  Obisque  Mission. 

The  other  groups  were  composed  of  English,  Irish  and  American,  who  all 
•eemed  to  have  drank  more  than  they  ought,  but  who,  from  that  very  reason 
were  imbibing  more  than  ever. 


130  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

Notwithstanding  the  tumult  which  arose  in  the  rough  concourse,  the  two 
eaves-droppers  could  distinctly  hear  some  sentences  carelessly  thundered  by- 
Mister  Jack,  which  surprised  his  commander  not  a  little. 

"  You  have  had  all  you  deserve,"  cried  Garcia, "  and  I'll  sefe  you  in  h — before 
Pll  come  down  with  a  dollar  more.  Confound  you,  there  was  only  a  figure  six 
of  thousands,  and  every  man  Jack  of  you  fingered  his  thousand,  Caramba!  by 
the  flames  and  pitch  forks  of  purgatory  !  did  you  think  I  was  going  to  divide 
even  with  you,  when  all  you  had  to  do  and  did  do  was  leave  the  fellow  alone 
and  I  did  for  him.  Share  and  share  alike,  hey  1  You  go  to  grass  !  I'll  dig 
my  claim  alone  after  this." 

As  the  stamp  is  put  on  the  sealing  wax,  so  the  speaker  gave  the  table  such  a 
vigorous  thump  with  a  mallet-like  fist  that  the  cards  jumped  up  and  danced  as 
if  they  were  playing  old  sledge  of  themselves. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

BLACK    DIAMOND     CUTS    BLACK   DIAMOND. MORE     TO    HEAR. THE    POLICEMEN    ARB 

TOO    LATE    AS    USUAL. THE    BOGUS   JOAQUIN. MORE    BLOOD. 

WHILE  noisy  Garcia  was  thus  emphatic,  a  scene  no  less  momentous  was 
transpiring  at  the  other  end  of  the  palatial  shanty.  One  of  the  drinkers  at  that 
part,  after  having  studied  with  inebriate's  gravity  the  speech  he  had  heard,  rose 
and  went  as  if  only  to  the  fire,  blunderingly  lit  a  cigar  while  carefully  scruti 
nizing  the  Three-fingered  desperado  with  as  much  astonishment  as  his  muddled 
senses  could  let  him  feel,  and  staggered  back  to  his  companions,  into  whose  ears 
he  whispered  a  few  startling  words. 

They  were  no  common  ones,  for  six  of  the  eight  there  seated,  rose  and  reeled 
out. 

Murieta  and  his  lieutenant,  followed  them  easily  in  the  obscurity;  the 
drunken  men,  though  made  sober  by  the  cool  outer  air,  were  so  intent  on  their 
sudden  purpose  that  they  minded  their  watchers  no  more  than  they  did  the  rats 
that  leaped  out  of  the  hollows  in  the  rotten  planking  called  the  sidewalk. 

Thinking  intentively  and  quite  correctly  that  three-fingered  Jack  had  some 
thing  to  do  with  the  abrupt  departure  of  the  seven,  the  two  Mexicans  let  them 
enter  undisturbed  their  tent,  when  they  stepped  up  to  it  and  listened  easily 
through  the  canvas. 

They  had  drawn  and  set  the  hammers  of  their  revolvers  in  case  they  should 
be  set  upon. 

"  Did  you  take  a  good  squint  at  him  .*"  asked  one  of  the  men  inside. 

"  A  first  rate  one,  so  good  that  I  will  remember  him  as  long  as  my  stick  is 
uncut." 

"  But  are  you  sure  it  is  that  man  ?" 

"  Look  a'  here,  /  can't  be  chiseled  on  that,  no  how  you  fix  it !  I  have  seen 
him  many  and  many  a  time  up  in  the  mountains  and,  as  sure  as  a  gun,  it  is 
Three-fingered  Jack,  one  of  the  top-sawyers  of  Joaquin's  cut-throats.  And  I'll 
go  as  X  besides  that  the  old  buck  himself,  Joaquin,  is  in  town,  for  one  is 
always  hanging  around  the  other.  They  are  jess  like  the  pilot  fish  and  shark 
we  saw  in  the  Gulf  coming  out  here  in  the  Golden  Gate.  Anyway,  those  three 
ugly  mugs  with  him  are  of  the  band,  I'll  bet." 

"  Thin  Oi'll  till  yees  fwat,  me  lads,"  said  a  third,  "  it  explins  all,  be  the 
powers  !  there's  not  a  bit  o'  wonder  that  we  made  Paddy  Fitzsimmon's  mothers 
5f  oursel's  las'  noit,  and  missed  our  game,  bedad!" 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Redny  ?" 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  181 

"  Shure  yees  ought  to  know.  I  mane  the  moiner  that  we  ought  to  have 
nailed  he  digger  wid  the  pockets  haping  wid  goold  galore !  This  three-fingered 
Jack,  as  yees  stoyle  him,  is  the  omadhaun  who  slipped  in  nately  an'  robbed  us, 
be  Jabers  !  An'  thot's  the  mysthery,  I'd  go  bail ! 

"  By  jingo,  maybe  that's  so  !  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  the  miners  you  speak  Of 
were  taken  care  of,  that  way.  But  it  couldn't  have  been  any  great  shakes  of  A 
robbery,  for  I  saw  our  birds  drop  feathers  and  feathers  of  *  slugs,'  at  the  arcade 
monte  tables.  To  blazes  and  blackness  with  the  Mexicans  !  Here  they  are 
leaving  the  woods  and  mountains  to  meddle  with  us  in  the  city,  r-r-rot  em  !" 

We  must  do  the  speaker  the  justice  to  declare  him  quite  truthful  in  his  in 
dignation. 

"  That's  me  all  over,"  grumbled  another.  "  Deuce  take  the  yellow  bellies. 
What  brings  the  cursed  greasers  here  ?  Here's  five  days  and  nights  that  we 
have  been  on  tHe  lay ;  and  we  may  lay  down  and  kick  the  bucket  before  we'll 
make  a  raise !" 

"  Shure  the  man's  truth- telling,"  interposed  **  Redny,"  shaking  the  head  which 
had  gained  him  the  nickname  as  solemnly  as  if  he  were  assenting  to  the  pro- 
foundest  of  philosophical  axioms. 

"  I'll  give  you  my  pinion,"  went  on  the  man  interrupted  by  the  exile  of 
Erin.  "  We  must  make  hash  of  these  interlopers.  When  we've  cleared  them 
out,  we  will  have  all  to  ourselves." 

"So,  you  mean  a  sudden  muss  with  'em — " 

"  No,  no,  *  Legs,'  none  of  that.  You're  loony  to  think  of  fighting  'em.  Of 
course,  we  could  lick  'em,  though  they  are  uncommon  h —  with  the  knife,  but 
it  wouldn't  pay,  d'  you  see.  What  I  propose  is  :  let's  set  the  peelers  on  their 
track,  and  if  they  can't  root  'em  out,  we'll  come  into  play  and  hunt  up  Joaquio, 
You  know  there's  a  reward  out  for  him  and  when  we  get  him—  " 

"  When!  don't  count  your  gold  till  it's  minted — " 

"  Dry  up,  Dodger,  will  you  ?  Or  else  Joaquin  won't  be  the  first  to  get  a 
wipe  with  my  knife.  You  are  blind  drunk,  you  fool.  As  I  was  a  saying  just 
now  when  Clumsy  shoved  in  his  roar,  where  we  get  Joa —  n 

"  Who  do  you  call  fool  and  clumsy  I     I'll  teach  you — " 

"  Will  you  shut  ?     I'll " 

"  No,  vou  won't.     I  can  lick —  " 

"  Take  that !" 

A  slap  was  heard. 

"  And  you  that,  you  bloody —  " 

And  the  peculiar,  awful  sound  of  a  well-struck  knife  passing  through  clothe* 
to  bury  itself  in  a  human  body,  accompanied  the  words. 

Dodger  had  stabbed  his  mate. 

On  the  instant  all  the  others  sprang  upon  the  assassin  and  as  noisy  and  e*- 
eiting  a  struggle  as  ever  took  place  in  a  circle  of  ten  or  twelve  feet  in  diameter 
and  covered  with, canvas,  thereupon  ensued.  As  Joaquin  and  his  friends  did 
not  care  to  see  the  upshot  of  the  scuffle,  they  left  their  stand  of  observation  and 
proceeded  towards  their  own  tent. 

They  were  born  for  adventures  that  night. 

A  few  steps  only  from  the  Fremont  House,  they  encountered  a  couple  of 
men,  convicts  who  had  quitted  Botany  Bay  without  applying  for  tickets  of 
leave,  who  were  fresh  from  the  taverns.  They  were  both  primed  and  charged 
deeply,  and  just  at  the  quarrelsome  period. 

"  Hullo  !  what  in  'ell's  this  'ere  chap  ?  shouted  one  of  them,  stopping  before 
Joaquin. 

"  'Ow's  a  fellow  to  know,  matey  ?" 

"  Min-d  your  own  business  and  pass  on,"  said  Joaquin. 

"Nosarseorl'll " 


•  132  Joaquin,   (the  Claude  l)uval  of  California.)  / 

Before  he  could  do  anything  with  the  weapon  to  which  he  carried  his 
he  fell   to  the  ground,  with  his  poisoned  breath  forming  his  last  gasp.     Mu- 
.rieta's  dagger  had  entered  its  full  length  in  his  side. 

His  companion,  sobered  by  the  sight,  recoiled  and  took  to  his  legs,  followed 
by  a  bullet  from  Valenzuela,  but  he  disappeared  untouched. 

The  two  Mexicans  resumed  their  march  peacefully  as  if  nothing  had  taken 
place,  when  they  unexpectedly  confronted  a  policeman,  who  had  heard  the  shot 
and  demanded  the  reason  of  it.  Joaquin  slouched  his  hat  over  his  face  for  pre 
caution's  sake,  shook  his  arm  free  from  his  ample  cloak  and  carelessly  laid  his 
.hand  on  his  revolver.  But,  seeing  a  second  person  coming  up,  and  suspecting 
him  to  be  another  policeman,  he  responded  in  a  polite  tone  : 
.  "  The  shot  was  by  accident,  sir.  My  friend  here  was  putting  his  revolver  in 
its  case  when  the  trigger  or  hammer  caught  in  the  strap  and  it  went  off  some 
how  or  other." 

"  What  made  you  run  so  quick1?"  asked  the  second  policeman  of  his  comrade;. 

"Oh,  nothing.  I  heard  a  shot  and  thought  it  another  murder,"  replied  he, 
and  he  added,  turning  to  Joaquin  :  "  You  say  your  friend  was  putting  up  his 
revolver — what  made  him  have  it  out?" 

"  He  was  carrying  it  in  his  hand,  sir.  There  are  too  many  rascals  around  at 
this  late  hour  for  there  to  be  no  danger  in  the  streets.  My  friend  wanted  to  be 
ready." 

"  Why  didn't  he  keep  the  Colt  in  his  hand  ?" 

•  "  Because  I  laughed  him  out  of  his  fears  and  told  him  that  the  police  were  so 
;active  in  this  quarter  that  the  rogues  had  been  pretty  well  thinned  out !" 

The  policemen  felt  merciful  all  of  a  sudden,  but  he  continued  his  cross-ques 
tioning,  a  delightful  occupation  to  many  men  in  office. 

"  But  you  were  just  now  telling  us  there  was  danger  in  the  streets,"  said  he, 
puttitig  the  poser  with  the  tone  of  a  Choate.  " You  are  so  prevaricativeory  (how 
he  did  rattle  out  the  new  word,  a  pet  one,  no  doubt !)  that  1  don't  know  whether 
to  believe  you  or  not." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  I  meant  that  weapons  were  not  needed  till  the  dan 
ger  appeared." 

"  What  do  you  think,  Charley?  Won't  it  be  best  to  arrest  'em — there  are 
so  many  rascaliions  about,  indeed,  though  our  ward  is  so-so.  And  the  wind 
to-night  is  just  th3  thing  tor  incendiaries  and  the  time  seams  up  for  "another 
Great  Fire.  1  think  it  will  be  prudent  to  hold  them." 

"  No,  I  don't  think  so  myself.  Let  'em  alone,  they're  all  right.  Ned,  you 
•Are  too  cheeky  altogether.  You  are  as  lippy  as  a  Tombs'  Shyster  who's  fingered 
a  knuck's  fee." 

"  1  know  what  I  say,  never  fear." 

.,    "  1  hope  so,  you're  sure  thing  for  judore  naxt  election  !" 

.  "Shut  up!  You're  worse  than  Billy  Milligan.  You  who  fire  off  six-shooters 
so  clumsily,  be  off  to  bed.  A  rest  is  hotter  than  arrest,  remember.  Come 
along,  Charley,  we'll  look  into  Neil's  and  have  a  whiskey  skin." 

"  That's  me." 

Joaquin  politely  bade  the  worthy  guardians  good  night  and  went  off  with  his 
•companion  in  the  direction  of  the  rum-shop  where  they  had  seen  Three-fingered 
•Jack. 

"  If  that  stupid  had  persisted  in  talking  of  marching  us  along  to  the  lock  up," 
remarked  the  bandit  chief,  "  I'd  have  left  a  place  vacant  in  the  force." 

"  So  would  1,  for  the  other,"  added  Valenzuela. 

The  uproar  which  resounded  inside  the  shanty  was  sufficient  to  prove  that 
his  drinking  continued.  Joaquin  looked  through  a  crevice  again  and  perceived 
the  man  still  in  the  same  place  but  so  drunk  that  he  had  much  ado  to  keep  his 
head  up,  and  it  did  fall  forward  every  little  while.  Murieta  charged  Valen 
zuela  to  watch  outside,  entered  the  drinking-place,  strode  straight  up  to  the 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  138 

table  and  roughly  shook  his  lieutenant  by  the  shoulder.  Garcia  rose  furiousl/ 
and  felt  for  his  revolver. 

"Oh!     Murieta!" 

"  Hush  !     Come !     I  want  you  to  leave  this  town  before  dawn." 

"  What  for]  what's  the  row?" 

"  Because  the  hounds  are  on  our  trail  and  in  a  few  minutes  perhaps  you  will 
be  nabbed." 

"  Caramba !  that  just  suits  this  child.  How  many  are  going  to  try  to  take 
me  1"  said  he  stoutly. 

"  Too  many  for  us  to  resist  them  when  they  will  have  a  thousand  citizens  to 
back  them.  Come  along !" 

"  Have  it  your  own  way." 

He  rolled  out  of  the  place,  followed  by  his  three  companions. 

Joaquin  conducted  all  his  men  to  Blanco's  house,  where  they  slept  till  dawn; 
then  he  sent  away  the  Blanco,  namesake  of  the  host,  to  San  Luis,  and  directed 
Borilda  and  Sanchez  to  regain  their  respective  haunts.  Three-fingered  Jack 
was  told  to  take  the  San  Jose  Road  and  make  a  bee-line  for  the  general  rendez 
vous. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  chief  and  Valenzuela  took  passage  for 
Sacramento  where  they  found  their  horses  all  right.  Thence  they  started 
forthwith  for  Stockton  in  order  to  give  Borilda  some  necessary  orders  relating 
to  other  members  of  the  band,  who  were  to  reach  Arroyo  Cantuva  via  Stock 
ton. 

Three  or  four  days  after  Joaquin's  departure,  rumor  had  it  in  San  Franciscan 
street  that  the  celebrated  Marauder  of  the  Mines  had  been  arrested  and  was 
caged  in  the  jail. 

A  poor  devil  of  a  Mexican  had  indeed  been  caught  who  had  been  profiting 
under  Murieta's  name. 

A  number  of  sight-seers  rushed  to  the  prison  to  feast  on  the  dish  of  bandit 
served  in  his  jacket,  potato  fashion,  and  probably  were  as  well  satisfied  as  if 
they  had  seen  the  Simon  Pure. 

All  this  time,  the  latter  was  on  his  undisturbed  travels. 

Three-fingered  Jack  had  stolen  a  magnificent  horse  with  fine  saddle  and  bridle 
and  silver  spurs  from  a  rich  Mexican  who  lived  near  the  Dolores  Mission  ;  next 
he  cut  the  throat  of  a  Chinaman  near  Alviso  in  addition  to  despoiling  him  of 
his  blankets  and  clothes;  so  with  one  James  Walsh,  around  the  San  Jose  Mis 
sion. 

This  latter  murder  gave  him  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  a  gold  watch 
and  a  revolver. 

Two  Mexican  rancheros  suspected  of  this  deed,  were  taken  to  San  Francisco, 
but  they  were  lucky  enough  to  be  let  off  as  they  deserved. 

A  week  later,  another  pride  of  the  Pirates  of  the  Placers,  Rafael  Quintara, 
stabbed  at  Santiago,  near  Columbia,  a  man  who  had  never  harmed  him  in  the 
least,  a  most  respectable  citizen.  This  inexplicable  assassination  excited  the 
deepest  indignation  all  over  the  country. 

The  energetic  detective  John  Leary  went  in  pursuit  of  the  criminal ;  but  he 
lost  him  in  the  intricacies  of  the  mountain. 

On  the  next  day  or  the  next  after  that,  Quintara  came  out  of  his  hiding, 
place  and  knifed  one  Samuel  Slater,  from  whom  he  took  some  specimens  of  ore, 
two  revolvers  and  provisions.  It  was  only  days  after  that  the  body  was  disk 
<wvered  half  eaten  by  coyotes. 


134  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  / 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  BAND  BEGINS  TO  LESSEN. THE  SPUR  TO  REVENGE. THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF 

THE  END. 

AFTER  having  ravaged  the  country  for  many  weeks  and  scattered  desolation 
and  mourning  among  the  population  who  could  not  find  an  enemy  only  known 
when  he  struck,  Joaquin  called  off  his  hounds. 

He  had  lost  many  of  his  bravest  and  most  useful  men,  and  dared  not  stay 
long  in  any  one  camp,  but  he  perhaps  believed  himself  rewarded  for  all  that  by 
having  as  fruit  of  his  many  enterprises  considerable  sums. 

The  horde  left  Calaveras  County  and  transported  the  seat  of  operations  into 
Mariposa  County.  This  latter  district  suffered  in  its  turn  all  that  its  neighbor 
had  undergone. 

We  have  not  space  to  relate  here  the  crimes  of  which  it  was  the  victim  and 
witness,  an  everlasting  record  of  bloody  scenes  like  those  already  set  before  the 
reader. 

The  devil  that  seemed  to  direct  and  protect  Murieta,  did  not  seem  desirous 
of  abandoning  him  yet;  leaden  bullets  seemed  never  to  have  been  moulded  to 
slay  him,  and  we  are  not  afraid  to  assert  that  some  of  his  baffled  pursuers  may 
have  cast  balls  of  dollars  to  try  the  virtue  of  silver  against  him. 

Though  continually  on  the  wing,  these  vultures  were  tireless  in  their  swoops 
for  murder  and  booty. 

Everywhere  behind  them,  they  left  a  sanguinary  streak  to  mark  their  passage 
and,  at  times,  their  most  horrid  crimes  were  executed  under  ths  very  eyes  of 
their  chasers. 

Cases  were  known  when  the  latter  had  heard  before  them  a  yell  for  help  or 
of  agony,  had  pressed  on  their  winded  steeds,  but  only  to  behold  victims  wel 
tering  in  blood,  and  to  see  the  bandits,  dashing  off,  perchance  lighting  cigarettes. 

At  the  most  of  the  time,  Joaquin' s  freebooters  were  divided  into  small  bands 
of  five  or  six. 

Murieta  himself  had  rarely  more  than  four  with  him,  but  they  were  the  lieu* 
tenants. 

Valenzuela  and  Three- fingered  Jack  were  always  beside  him. 

Guerra  had  the  keeping  of  the  camp.  Sevalio  was  in  the  field  and  had  no 
rival  for  daring  and  skill  in  the  plundering,  except  Antonio. 

This  latter  had  a  particular  liking  for  the  country  round  about  Putah  and 
Cache  Creek ;  he  was  the  terror  of  horse-owners.  Every  day  almost  he  was 
chased,  but  thanks  to  a  splendid  steed  which  carried  him,  he  always  made  out 
to  escape. 

This  animal  was  the  same  which  Texas  Jack  had  been  presented  with  by  Jo 
aquin. 

Some  days  before  leaving  Stockton,  the  captain  of  the  coyotes,  while  lying 
perdu  in  a  "Hunter  Street  house,  was  told  by  Valenzuela  that  Texas  Jack'waa 
taken  and  was  going  to  be  tried  for  an  important  theft. 

The  chief  went  into  the  court-house  and  sat  down  quietly  like  any  other  spec 
tator.  While  the  judge  was  passing  sentence  on  the  culprit  of  five  years'  im 
prisonment,  the  latter  was  looking  over  the  hall  and  perceived  his  commander. 
A  scarcely  perceptible  signal  was  exchanged  between  them  and  the  condemned 
man  thought  himself  sure  of  safety  once  more. 

Unluckily  for  him,  Joaquin  had  only  three  of  his  men  in  the  whole  town, 
which  was  hardly  a  sufficient  force. 

He  said  afterwards  that  if  he  could  have  found  a  dozen  men,  he  would  have 
tried  to  take  the  prisoner  from  the  police  officers  as  they  proceeded  to  take  the 
steamboat  for  Benicia. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  135 

Five  months  afterwards,  a  queer  but  true  story  went  the  rounds. 

There  had  been  discovered  in  a  huge  grave  dug  in  the  ground  of  a  ranchc 
belonging  to  Texas  Jack,  a  man  and  a  horse.  The  rider  had  not  left  the  saddle 
and  his  spurs  were  still  on  his  boots. 

All  seamed  to  say  that  the  man  had  been  struck  on  the  top  of  the  head  while 
in  that  place  and  position,  and  the  murder  was  of  recent  date.  Besides  him 
were  found  skulls  and  bones,  the  last  remains  of  other  victims  of  the  despe 
radoes. 

One  evening,  while  in  a  tent  of  a  connection  of  his  association,  three  miles 
from  Mariposa,  Joaquin  was  informed  that  two  more  of  his  men  were  off  the 
rolls,  having  been  hanged  for  horse-stealing  at  San  Juan. 

They  had  been  pursued  and  caught  between  Gilroy's  and  el  Pajaro,  bound 
and  taken  back  to  the  town ;  and  committed  for  trial  by  Judge  Mahon.  Tho 
people,  who  had  suffered  Igsses  in  live  stock,  had  assembled,  taken  the  captives 
from  ths  officers  and  strung  them  up  according  to  Lynch  law. 

On  this  intelligence,  the  captain  mounted  and  with  his  body-guard  of  four 
went  towards  Monterey  County. 

On  the  banks  of  the  San  Benito,  not  far  from  San  Juan,  he  established  his 
camping-ground,  where  they  remained  about  half  a  week,  carefully  concealed 
during  the  day,  but  employing  the  night  in  stealing  all  the  valuable  equino 
cattle  that  they  had  marked  at  the  different  farms. 

When  they  had  believed  that  they  had  sufficiently  avenged  their  gibbeted 
comrades,  they  broke  camp  and  drove  the  animals  to  Arroyo  Cantuva. 

The  majority  of  the  plunderers  were  already  there. 

Almost  all  the  parties  had  luckily  terminated  their  enterprises  and  wero 
awaiting  fresh  directions. 

Thereupon  began  the  preparations  for  the  important  acts  which  were  to  end 
with  the  brigand  in  California. 

He  had  formed  a  connection  with  the  richest  and  most  influential  Mexicans 
in  the  state  and  was  sure  of  their  co-operation  in  his  projects. 

The  other  people  did  not  dream  of  any  great  plan  being  conceived  by  a  man 
they  considered  a  mere  marauder. 

Joaquin  commericed  by  despatching  to  Mexico  his  intelligent  Antonio,  who 
was  furnished  with  funds  and  the  necessary  instructions  for  the  arming  and 
equipping  of  volunteers  and  partisans,  of  whom  he  was  sure  beforehand,  as  they 
were  waiting  only  for  the  call. 

Guerra  was  sent  to  the  different  ranches  in  the  state  where  depots  of  horses 
had  been  selected  ;  he  was  to  get  together  these  animals  and  conduct  them  to 
the  head-quarters,  along  with  all  the  men  he  might  meet. 

The  captain  for  his  part,  had  an  important  piece  of  business  to  transact  at 
San  Luis  Obispo,  for  which  he  started  the  same  day,  with  only  one  attendant. 
It  was  an  interview  with  the  Mexican  woman  whom  he  had  encountered  acci 
dentally  some  months  before  in  the  Hangtown  stage. 

This  woman,  sister  of  Joaquin's  first  love,  Carinela,  had  wedded  a  wealthy 
ranchero  of  Guadalajara,  Mexico.  On  her  husband's  death,  she  had  left  her 
property  and  come  to  California,  to  fan  the  flames  of  vengeance  in  Murieta'a 
heart  and  press  him  to  carry  out  his  shameful  plans  against  peaceful  honest 
citizens. 

She  had  heard  him  with  regret  express  his  determination  to  give  up  roving 
after  one  more  burst,  but,  as  she  found  she  could  not  dissuade  him,  she  held 
council  with  him  and  returned  to  Mexico  on  the  day  after  their  meeting. 

The  next  week,  Joaquin  thought  of  placing  the  girls  in  some  sure  place  where 
nothing  could  happen  to  them.  He  gave  Sevalio  a  score  of  his  most  trusty 
rascals  as  an  escort  to  them  into  the  province'of  Sonora. 

The  bandit  leader  marked  out  the  following  road  for  them :  along  the  Gulf 


136  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California]  ; 

of  California,  towards  the  San  Pedro  and  Santa  Catarina  Missions,  thence  to 
gain  San  Francisco  Borgia  and  the  Santa  Gertrudis  Mission,  cutting  through  a 
mountainous  and  thickly  wooded  district  well  known  to  Sevalio. 

Joaquin  accompanied  the  party  some  little  -ways  to  see  them  off,  took  affec 
tionate  leave  of  Clarina,  gave  a  kiss  all  round  to  the  other  girls,  to  their  great 
delight,  and  returned. 

Reflecting  that  the'best  plan  was  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  new  partisans 
from  Lower  California  and  Sonora,  before  assembling  the  men  he  had  already, 
he  countermanded  the  orders  to  Guerra  and  sent  off  his  available  forces  into  the 
region  around  him.  With  a  party  of  six,  he  traveled  Calaveras  County 
through. 

While  so  doing,  he  came  to  Jackson,  robbing  a  miner  named  Jewel  of  three 
hundred  dollars-worth  of  gold,  a  revolver  and  other  valuables.  His  compan 
ions,  the  inseparable  Valenzuela  and  three-fingered  Jack,  had  their  share  in  the 
understanding  and  never  had  the  detestable  Garcia  been  more  in  his  element 
than  during  the  stay  in  Calaveras  and  the  surrounding  counties. 

Success  went  hand  and  glove  with  the  chief  in  all  his  past  three  week's 
doings,  in  the  northern  part  of  Calaveras  County. 

Large  sums  of  gold  came  into  his  grasping  hands,  so  large  that  it  was  no 
more  than  prudent  to  shift  the  locality.  Before  the  place  could  cry  "  good 
riddance,"  however,  he  was  joined  by  fourteen  or  fifteen  of  his  men  who  had 
been  making  a  descent  on  the  neighborhood  of  Thorn's  Creek,  in  Colusi  County, 
where  they  had  obtained  a  quantity  of  horses,  to  drive  which  to  the  main  ren 
dezvous  four  of  them  were  told  off. 

Joaquin  kept  this  unexpected  reinforcement,  went  up  to  the  headquarters  o>' 
the  Stanislaus  and  continued,  in  the  rich  valleys  watered  by  that  stream^  the 
scenes  of  desolation  which  we  have  seen  him  renew  so  many  times. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

* 

MORE  MURDERS. THE  CAPTAIN   TELLS  HOW  BEGAN  AND    HOW  ENDED  ANOTHER 

GREAT    ROBBER'S  CAREER. — THE    STATE    MOVES,  AND  CAPTAIN  LOVE    TAKES  UP 

THE    TRAIL. GAPS   IN    THE    ROLL. —  JOAQUIN  AND    THREE-FINGERED    JACK  FIRE 

THEIR  LAST. 

After  two  weeks  spent  in  the  Stanislaus  Valley,  Joaquin  made  for  the  Rivers 
Mariposa  and  Merced.  He  "  blazed"  his  path  as  usual  by  extensive  depreda 
tions  ;  after  which  he  sent  off  all  his  foilowerers  except  the  original  half  dozen 
to  the  Arrayo. 

With  them  he  retired  to  the  rancho  of  a  Mexican  of  San  Jose,  killing  on 
the  way  a  Frenchman  who  kept  a  public  drinking  garden,  and  concealed  him 
self  there  for  a  while.  The  host  was  a  secret  member  of  the  gang. 

As  they  sat  by  the  fire  that  night,  Joaquin  fulfilled  a  half  promise  which  he 
had  made  in  times  past,  and  related  most  forcibly  the  adventures  of  the  celebra 
ted  Massaroni. 

He  had  learnt  his  particulars  from  men  like  Antonio  who  knew  well  the  be- 
hind-the  scenes  of  banditti  life,  and  hence  what  follows  is  not  a  mere  writer's 
fancy  but  such  facts  as  can  obtained,  if  you  are  acute  enough,  from  descendants 
in  Italy  of  the  banditti  who  acted  their  parts. 

The  police  accounts  tell  only  one  half  the  story. 

Massaroni  was  a  young  man  when,  up  by  the  head  waters  of  the  Tagliamento, 
under  the  brow  of  the  Alps,  he  lived  to  love  a  young  girl  of  the  country. 

She  robbed  her  parents  of  other  valuables  than  herself  and  accompanied 
young  Allessgndro  to  Venice. 

' 


Or.   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  137 

For  half  a  year  they  dwelt  together,  and  marriage  was  agreed  upon  by  them. 

But  at  that  time,  the  youth's  habits  and  manners  changed. 

He  was  away  whole  nights  and  days  and,  after  being  profuse  in  harsh  words, 
one  time  struck  her  who  had  given  him  all,  her  future  life  and  happiness,  her 
honor. 

All  the  blood  of  the  Italian  flamed  up  at  the  insult,  and  she  spoke  to  him  as 
he  had  little  expected  to  be  addressed. 

Suffice  it,  that  he  left  her,  swearing  he  never  would  see  her  more. 

She  let  him  go,  proudly  silent,  but  then,  bowed  her  head  on  her  bosom  and 
kissed  her  own  breasts,  sadly  saying: 

"  No  more  mine,  no  more  his — its  only  and  evermore !  I  live  for  that  alone 
Allessandro,  thou  faithless  one !" 

In  a  few  weeks,  Massaroni  had  brushed  off  his  regrets  and  twinges  of  con 
science  and  become  hand  and  glove  with  the  bravi  of  Venice  the  Free,  the 
Beautiful,  the  Powerful. 

His  extraordinary  good  fortune  raised  him  speedily  several  grades,  and  he 
soon  attained  such  a  position  that  he  could  luxuriate  during  half  the  week,  on 
the  proceeds  of  robberies  during  the  other  half. 

For  the  furtherance  of  his  designs,  he  frequented  pretty  aristocratic,  or,  at 
least,  wealthy  company. 

For  many  months  he  held  his  assumed  place  of  a  stranger,  preserving  incog- 
nite  for  reasons,  silencing  the  easily  corrupted  police,  and — after  learning  val 
uable  secrets  of  rakish  noblemen — having  them  robbed  as  no  other  could  have 
done. 

One  night  only,  as  he  was  about  entering  a  casino,  or  gambling  den,  a  woman 
stopped  him  and  begged  him  to  follow  her  to  the  house  of,  she  said,  "  one  who 
was  dying,  and  loved  him." 

He  thought  it  merely  one  of  the  too  numerous  intrigues  and  shoved  her 
aside. 

He  forgot  all  about  it. 

Besides,  the  next  day  was  the  great  regatta  and  he  had  entered  a  boat  for  a 
race,  the  agreement  and  stakes  to  be  settled  that  night. 

These  races  are  great  events  in  so  watery  a  city  as  that  Bride  of  the  Sea. 

Next  day,  the  grand  canal  was  covered  with  the  flags  of  countless  craft, 
filled  with  gaily  attired  people,  while  banners  floated  from  the  windows  of  the 
double  rows  of  palatial  buildings  all  along  the  aqueous  highway. 

The  racers  left  Castello,  skirted  the  Schalvonic  Wharf  and  through  the  grand 
canal  to  the  church  of  Santo  Lucia,  where  they  turned  a  flag-buoy  and  returned 
to  the  Foscairo  Palace,  where  a  grand  stand  had  been  erected  for  the  doge  and 
chief  persons. 

It  took  some  time  for  the  chief  matches  to  be  concluded,  but  then  began  the 
private  ones,  Massaronio's  turn  was  next  to  the  comic  one  of  the  women,  a 
most  laughable  burlesque. 

The  robber's  antagonist  was  an  Austrian  named  Pottergeist. 

The  gondoliers  of  both  craft  were  Venitians,  but  the  people  were  all  on  Mas- 
saroni's  side  from  his  being  as  decidedly  a  countryman  as  the  other  was  a 
foreigner. 

Off  went  the  two  hearse-like  boats,  keeping  together  well  until  out  of  sight. 

On  the  return,  the  two  prows  were  on  the  same  line  still,  while  they  seemed 
to  fly  over  rattier  than  cut  through  the  surface. 

•'  Good,  Pietio!  again,  again,  Giorgio  !  Bravo!  See,  see,  he's  ahead!  Italy 
forever  !  down  with  the  Austrian  !" 

Massaroni  was  seated  in  the  little  cabin  of  his  boat  as  his  rival  was  in  his, 
for  the  gondolas  u  carried  weight,"  which  made  all  more  interesting. 

"  But  the  spectators  could  not  see  into  the  covered  receptacle  for  passengers 
though  the  latter  could  incite  their- servants. 


138  .  -          Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

'  On,  Pietro,  you  are  like  a  winged  bird !  five  hundred  to  you  if  you  pass  by 
a  length  !"  cried  Massaroni.' 

His  gondolier  looked  aslant  at  his  opponent  and  by  a  vigorous  bending  of  his 
oars,  gained  notably. 

"  Keep  it  up,  and  they  are  losers  !"  encouraged  Allessandro. 
"  Hey  there,  Giorgio !"   yelled  a  mocking  voice  from  the  shore,  "  you   are 
slow  !  is  it  a  i'at  friar  you've   aboard   who   wants   to   go   gingerly  after    his 
dinner  ?" 

The  Austrian's  man  doubled  his  exertions  and  recovered  his  former  position 
of  neck  and  neck. 

Cheers  ran  along  each  edge  of  the  water,  with  intermingling  taunts  and  laughs. 

"  On,  on,  Pietro,  never  fear  !" 

"  Fear,  signor  ?  By  Saint  Mark,  if  I  had  my  gunwale  loaded  down  to  the  very 
water,  I'd  wager  to  beat  Giorgio  and  his  skiff  empty." 

The  two  kept  very  equal ;  whenever  one  slackened  his  exertions  for  a  space,  the 
other  shot  ahead,  only  to  be  overtaken  similarly  when  his  burst  died  away. 

"  Good  heart,  Pietro  !"  cried  Massaroni,  appearing  in  the  cabin  entrance,  "  the 
goal  is  near  !  Think  of  the  crowd  a-looking  !" 

'*  A  fico  for  them,  signor,"  answered  the  man,  working  as  untiringly  as  if  his 
muscles  were  of  steel ;  "  By  Santa  Maria  del  Rosario,  you  may  rely  on  the 
rown  !  Tough  work,  though,"  murmured  he. 

(These  Italian  gondoliers  are  .weariless  fellows,"  said  Joaquin  ;  "  like  those 
boatmen  on  the  Chagres  River  who  pole  the  barges  against  the  current — they 
don't  know  fatigue  when  they  are  at  work,  and  only  feel  tired  when  resting — 
you  understand,  amigos  ?") 

The  gondolier's  speech  had  been  heard  by  the  Austrian  on  the  other  bark,  and 
he  said  to  his  man,  severely : 

"  Giorgio,  you  hear  ?" 

"  Bah  !  his  tongue  works  better  than  his  arms,"  muttered  Giorgio.     "  I'll  be 

if  I  dont  sail  in  first — your  five  thousand  crowns  are  safe  to  you  as  if 

they  were  in  bank,  per  Bacco !" 

"  A  thousand  are  yours  in  that  case,  besides  a  full  indulgence  that  I  will  get 
of  the  papal  legate  for  your  soul." 

"  Ha !  no  more  words,  See  !" 

Giorgio  closed  his  lips,  knit  his  brows  in  resolution,  and  so  well  expended  his 
power  that  he  drew  a  whole  length  ahead  of  the  other, 

"  The  Austrian  forever !"  cried  many. 

"  Bravo,  my  man,"  shouted  Pottergeist. 

"  Pietro,  you  villain,  you're  asleep,"  yelled  Alessandro. 

"  Am  I  T  returned  the  boatman,  making  an  effort  and  slightly  more  than  re 
covering  his  distance.  "  Pooh  !  I've  been  three  years  on  the  waters  more  than 
that  Giorgio." 

But  Massaroni's  growing  fears  were  far  from  being  quieted. 

"  That  Giorgio"  seemed  to  have  but  the  one  idea,  that  of  overcoming  his  ad 
versary  by  tiring  him  out,  which  in  fact  he  promised  yet  to  do.  He  shot  a  bit 
aheaJ,  and  every  time  tha,t  his  contestant  endeavored  to  come  up  to  him,  he  put 
out  his  force  so  that  Massaroni's  champion,  exhausted  considerably  by  his  efforts, 
was  compelled  to  work  almost  double  to  even  keep  in  the  other's  wake.  These 
tactics  so  well  aided  Giorgio  that  he  and  his  master  became  confident  that  if 
things  kept  on  as  they  were,  to  them  would  be  the  victory.  Pottergeist  under 
stood  the  plan  no  doubt,  for  he  tell  back  into  the  little  cabin,  after  saying  : 

"  A  thousand." 

•'  Get  'em  ready,  master,"  replied  the  boatman,  straining  at  the  oars. 

"  You're  failing,  Pietro,"  cried  his  employer,  clutching  the  curtains  with  his 
nervous  fingers.  "  That  wretch  goes  like  the  devil !" 


Or,   The  Maraudei   of  the  Mines.  139 

The  end  was  so  near  that  both  the  principals  came  out  of  the  cabins  and  stood 
in  full  view  like  the  boatmen. 

"  I'll  beat  the  devil,  be  sure,  master  mine,"  growled  Pietro,  bending  to  it. 

He  was  fully  behind  the  Austrian,  but  he  flattered  himself  that  with  an  ex 
traordinary  essay,  he  could  at  least  recover  the  former  place  of  side  by  side,  as 
he  had  managed  to  do  before.  But  Giorgio,  attentive  to  his  movements,  put 
out  all  his  strength  simultaneously  with  Pietro,  and  if  anything  gained  some 
thing  by  the  exertion.  But  what  finished  the  lingering  of  Massaroni's  hopes 
was  that  the  opposing  gondolier,  three  times  in  succession,  repeated  as  many 
long  sweeps  of  the  oar. 

A  thunder  of  acclamation  broke  on  either  side  and  echoed  in  the  cornices  and 
niches  of  the  carved  windows. 

"  Malediction  on  you,"  roared  Massaroni,  "  what  flattery  ever  made  you  take 
to  gondolas  for  a  living,  old  helpless,  Pietro  1  Two  thousand  for  you,  if  you 
come  in  head  !" 

"  I'll  do  it,  if  nothing  breaks  !" 

Already  incited  by  vanity  and  rivalry  and  now  super-excited  by  the  reward, 
the  loser  made  immense  efforts.  He  seemed  to  forget  to  breathe,  and  his  oars 
were  hardly  to  be  seen  feathering ;  they  moved  like  the  sails  of  a  windmill. 
Hope  returned  to  Massaroni,  but  he  was  only  to  have  a  short  taste  of  joy. 

The  goal  was  at  hand.  All  were  on  the  alert,  and  too  much  interested  to 
make  a  sound  of  either  applause  or  censure. 

But  Gorgio  had  spared  his  skill  and  power  for  this  dash,  and  when  he. saw 
his  adversary  flurried  and  rowing  desperately,  he  felt  sure,  that  he  was  the 
victor.  Pietro  was  like  the  jockey  who  plies  the  persuaders  and  the  thong  on 
his  beaten  horse,  Giorgio  the  one  who  comes  in  without  having  touched  his  steed 
with  spur  or  whip,  lie  plied  his  oars  as  regularly  as  if  he  were  at  an  every 
day  work. 

"  Won,  won  !"  cried  Massaroni,  as  his  gondola  forged  ahead. 

The  flagboat  to  be  passed  was  not  twenty  yards  off. 

At  that  very  moment,  poor  Pietro  fell  forward  on  his  oars,  which  were  jerked 
up  out  of  the  water,  and  measured  his  length  forward.  The  Austrian  flew  on 
amid  waving  of  hats  and  veils,  a  fluttering  of  flowers  and  funs,  and  cheers  and 
clapping  of  hands.  The  other  boat,  nevertheless,  followed  and  ran  gently  against 
the  victor. 

"  Allow  me  your  hand,  Signor  Allessandro,"  said  Pottergeist,  as  he  stood  on 
the  quay.  "  You  have  lost,  my  friend,  but,  per  Dio,  our  horses  ran  well." 

Massaroni  felt  an  awful  thirst  for  the  speaker's  blood,  but  that  was  not  to  be 
indulged  in  there,  of  course,  amid  that  throng.  He  could  not  conceal  his  pallor 
but  he  felt  that  he  had  to  put  on  dignity.  So  he  kept  down  his  envy  and 
hatred,  and  forced  a  laugh  as  he  gave  the  winner  his  hand. 

"  Our  men  have  well  run,"  said  he,  "  there  is  no  doubt  of  that.  I'm  afraid, 
though,  that  my  old  waterman  is  hurt." 

"  He's  dead —  see !"  said  half  a  dozen  voices.     "  Burst  a  blood-vessel !" 

"  Oh,  no  odds,"  remarked  the  captain,  "  a  couple  of  paters  and  some  masses 
will  make  it  all  well,  for  Pietro  is  without  kith  or  kin." 

That  was  remedied,  and  Massaroni  left  the  crowd. 

That  night,  into  a  certain  casino,  sauntered  he.  He  had  some  money,  how 
obtained,  no  matter.  He  wore  his  most  smiling  mask,  for  his  pride  would 
have  suffered  if  he  had  fancied  any  of  the  bystanders  pitied  him.  Luckily  for 
him,  his  friends  were  feasting,  and  he  was  well  warmed  up  by  the  supper.  He 
was  the  first  to  speak  of  his  defeat  and  offer  to  pay  the  bet. 

"But,"  said  he,  "  do  you  mind  trying  if  cards  are  as  much  against  me  as 
gondolas,  Pottergeist.  Shall  we  say,  double  or  quits  ?" 

"  Just  as  you  like.  Ths  double-eagle  can  outsoar  St.  Mark's  lion  at  every* 
thing,"  rejoined  the  Austrian  gaily. 


140  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

Chance  was  for  Massaroni  at  the  first,  and  he  cleared  off  his  debt.  Then  ne 
staked  money,  and  won  game  after  game,  when  as  the  Austrian  was  drained 
pretty  deeply,  he  gained  a  considerable  stake. 

"  Time  for  you  !"  said  Massaroni,  forgetting  himself. 

"At  cards,  there  is  always  time,"  returned  the  other  coolly. 

"  Let's  keep  on,  as  I  want  to  play  on  to  the  end.  The  blade,  then  the  handle, 
and  even  the  knob  on  the  hilt  after  that !" 

"  Just  what  I  was  going  to  say." 

It  was  Massaroni's  turn  to  lose  what  was  before  him.  The  other  appeared 
to  regulate  his  play  and  made  him  pass  through  all  the  variations  of  the  sliding 
scale  which  he  had  lately  undergone,  until  a  thousand  crowns  was  his  antago 
nist's  all. 

"  Time  for  you  /"  murmured  he. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ]" 

"  Oh,  nothing.  I  was  merely  thinking  what  a  fine  thing  it  is  for  people  to 
keep  cool." 

«  What " 

But  the  tone  of  this  exclamation  gave  Pottergiest  caution,  and  he  was  too  ex 
perienced  a  gambler  to  quarrel  with  a  man  who  yet  had  money.  So  he 
smoothed  his  brow  and  met  the  Italian's  stake. 

"  By  the  bye,  will  you  take  my  word  for  thrice  this,  so  as  to  make  it  four 
thousand  ?" 

"Certainly.     You  have  lost,  mio  cam"  added  the  Austrian  in  triumph. 

"  The  devil  has  bewitched  the  cards,"  said  Allessandro,  tossing  off  a  bumper. 
"  The  devil  a^ain  !  the  drink's  bitter !"  and  he  put  down  the  glass  so  roughly 
that  it  fell  off  and  smashed  on  the  floor. 

"  Bad  omen  !"  croaked  some  neighboring  voice. 

"  Thank  you,  unknown  signer,"  sneered  the  ruined  gamester.  "  A  pretty 
prophecy,  after  the  act.  Good  or  bad,  I'll  play  no  longer  with  you  Pottergeist. 
Where's  my  young  friend  Monteafiere  1" 

"  Busy,"  answered  the  Austrian  ;  "  he  always  loses  at  cards  with  you,  but  he 
gain's  over  you  in  the  good  graces  of  lovely  Sylvia.  By  the  bye,  how  is  she  ?" 

"  You  saw  her  at  the  regatta  as  well  as  1 —  do  you  laugh  at  me  T' 

«  Bachus  forbid." 

Allessandro  turned  and  left  the  saloon. 

"  By  the  good  Saint  Pantaleone,  he's  very  pale.  Young  Pisano  looked  so 
the  night  when  he  leaped  off  the  Molo  with  a  huge  stone  in  his  cloak  to  sink 
him,"  remarked  some  one. 

"  Tush.     Massaroni  is  more  like  to  kill  than  self-kill,"  said  another. 

Meanwhile  the  subject  of  these  remarks  had  rushed  frantically  away  toward 
his  fashionable  lodgings. 

As  he  was  wildly  picking  his  way  through  the  labyrinth  of  poverty-stricken 
lanes  that  are  behind  the  canal-banks'  grand  and  splendid  buildings,  he  heard  a 
cry  of  "  h-jlp  !" 

Help  !    he  wanted  it  himself  and  fancied  that  Satan  was  mocking  him. 

All  was  lost.  Gold  was  gone  and  he  had  dipped  already  in  his  mistress 
Sylvia's  purse,  shameful  as  he  considered  her  gift. 

Midnight  assassinations  and  robberies  had  ceased  to  pay,  for  the  nobles  had 
larger  escorts  than  ever  when  they  went  visiting,  since  crimes  had  of  late  grown 
to  numerous. 

"  Help:"  was  the  cry  once  more. 

More  deeply  affected  than  he  ought  to  have  been  to  all  appearance,  Allessan 
dro  stopped  and  listened. 

An  infant's  wail  joined  in  the  outcries.  He  strode  through  the  mud  up  a 
oiiry  alley.  A  feeble  light  gleamed  before  him. 

He  burst  in  a  door  of  a  hovel. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  141 

By  the  glimmer  of  a  dying  lamp,  Allessandro  beheld,  on  a  heap  of  mouldy 
straw,  a  shape  of  a  woman  who,  writhing  in  the  pangs  of  the  fever  of  the  marshes, 
uttered  the  screams  he  had  heard. 

Near  her  was  a  quite  young  babe,  whose  similar  cries  grew  weaker  and  weak 
er  every  time.  The  fine  but  unkempt  hair  streamed  ovjer  the  mother's  face,  but, 
at  the  crash  of  the  stove-in  door,  she  seemed  to  collect  her  forces  sufficiently  to 
sit  half  up  and  say  in  an  awful  voice,  hollow  and  hoarse : 

"  Bread,  bread  !  anything  to  eat !" 

At  the  voice,  at  the  sight  presented,  Massaroni  drew  back  as  if  the  fuse  of  a 
powder  mine  had  been  burning  at  his  feet.  Indescribable  horror  overcame  his 
senses,  and  for  an  instant  he  had  much  ado  not  to  believe  himself  a  plaything  of 
delirium. 

Was  this  real,  or  had  his  losses  driven  him  mad  ? 

The  walls  streaming  with  damp,  like  the  plashy  floor,  the  wretched  mockery 
of  a  bed,  the  dying  child,  the  wasted  wreck  of  a  mother,  this  complete  picture 
of  thirst  and  hunger  added  to  the  worst  of  woes — was  it  possible  on  an  earth 
over  which  rounded  God's  heaven  ? 

But  this  shadow  of  a  woman,  this  mere  reflection  of  one  of  the  darlings  of 
man,  she  to  be  here  of  all !  Satan  must  have  enrobed  himself  in  that  shell  to 
wound  him  with  many  a  dreadful  reflection  ! 

The  features,  thinned  as  they  were,  were  but  to  well  known  to  him — yet  could 
those  faded,  sunken  cheeks  be  the  same  on  which,  rained  his  tears  of  excessive 
joy  and  kisses  of  immoderate  rapture  in  the  days  of  their  enticing  bloom  1 
Those  hands,  fine  as  threads,,  mere  bone,  extended  to  him  in  ail  the  anguish  of 
despairing  supplication — they  had  a  thousand  times  thrilled  joy  into  him  when 
interlaced  with  his  own1?  And  those  eyes,  bright  with  fever  and  approaching 
madness — could  they  ever  have  been  the  twin  wells  from  which  had  poured  the 
bliss  which  he  had  bathed  in,  ravished,  and  sworn  to  be  inexhaustible] 

"  Isalia  !  is  it  you  1"  gasped  he,  trembling  to  receive  the  answer. 

"  Bread,  bread,"  was  all  the  poor  creature  could  say,  as  she  fell  back  on  the 
straw. 

"  Speak,  speak  again  !"  cried  the  man,  moving  nearer  to  the  rotting  couch.  "  Is 
it  you,  Isalia  !  Isalia,  I  say  !  is  it  you? 

"  Ah — h  !  Allessandro  !  All's  not  lost  if  it's  you — I  die,  no  bread — for  four 
day's  starving — and  the  baby  cannot — " 

"  Good  God — can  it  be  !  Halloa !  ho  there !  help  help  !  bread,  bread  !" 

But  louder  though  his  voice  was  than  hers,  no  better  fortune  was  his.  Not  a 
sound  replied. 

"  No  one  comes,"  whispered  she,  "  go  yourself  for — a  drop  of  water —  a  crumb 
of  bread  !  Don't  let  me  die  now,  Pandro,  with  our  child — " 

"  Our  child  ! — Wait,  wait !  Hope,  hope,  I  will  make  you  happy." 

So  saying,  he  kissed  avidly  her  wasted  hands;  he  flung  himself  on  his  knees 
on  the  cold  floor,  kissed  her  again  and  again,  then  the  infant's  forehead  until, 
suddenly  called  to  their  state,  he  sprang  up  and  rushed  away. 

The  air  of  the  street  so  contrasted  with  that  of  the  valley  and  the  hovel  tha 
it  made  him  shudder  and  reel.  He  hesitated. 

At  that  hour,  every  house  was  closed  and  the  streets  and  canals  untenanted 
except  by  miscreants  and  the  police,  which  latter  he  feared  more  than  the 
other  from  being  on  only  too  intimate  a  footing  with  them.  He  made  for  his 
residence,  running  at  the  top  of  his  speed.  Long  and  loudly  did  he  knock  at 
the  door,  swearing  at  the  sluggish  servants  and  trying  to  break  in.  But  the 
whole  household  was  away. 

He  remembered. 

"  Confusion  !  I  said  I  would  be  at  the  ball  and  gave  them  leave  to  be  out  all 
night  like  myself.  My  valet  is  to  await  me  at  Sylvia's.  To  Sylvia's  then  !" 

Off  again  "he  set  like  a  madman.     Lights  burned  at  the  courtesan's,  and  he 


142  Joaquin,  (the  Claude  Duval  of  California); 

almost  instantly  was  let  in.  Ho  very  nearly  upset  the  porter.  Before  flying 
up  the  staircase,  he  turned  and,  seeing  behind  him  the  shuddering  servant,  cried 
imperiously : 

"  Giobbe !   bread,  wine,  instantly." 

Poor  Giobbe,  as  terrified  as  his  patient  biblical  namesake  was  at  the  advent 
of  the  whirl  wind,  ran  away  to  obey  his  orders  and  tell  the  kitchen-girl  of  his 
mistress's  lover's  state,  relating  circumstantially  how  he  must  haw,  beheld 
the  ghost  of  headless  Faliero,  or  the  armless  gondolier  of  the  Canal  della 
Giudecea,  or  the  twin  ballet-girls  of  the  Apollo  Theatre  who  had  been  flying 
off  the  Campo  di  Marte  Bridge  by  drunken  scions  of  noble  houses. 

In  the  mean  time,  Massaroni  had  ascended  the  steps  and  pounded  at  Sylvia's 
room. 

Delay. 

At  last,  the  waiting-maid  opened  and  gave  a  shriek  of  alarm  at  sight  of  his 
appalling  face.  She  thought  her  last  hour  had  come  when  those  flaming  eyes 
poured  a  scorching  fire  on  her,  but  he  was  impelled  by  too  great  emotion  to 
quarrel  with  the  servant  for  her  slowness.  Like  a  thunderbolt  he  burst  through 
*he  door  of  Sylvia's  bedroom. 

Now  he  recoiled. 

Instead  of  finding  the  lovely  courtesan  abed  and  asleep,  she  was  dressed  and 
standing  pale  and  agitated,  learning  on  the  arm  of  a  sofa.  But  Allessandro 
was  not  in  a  mood  to  calmly  analyse  his  surprise. 

"  Do  you  love  me,  Sylvia?"  he  asked. 

"  What  do  you  mean  1"  stammered  she,  her  limbs  failing  her ;  she  almost 
shrieked !  "  don't  look  at  me  so !" 

"  Loving  me  or  not,  I  must  save  her !  I  have  spent  heaven  knows  how  much 
on  you  !  give  me  some  money !" 

The  astounded  Aspacia  was  far  from  understanding,  but  with  an  earnestness 
given  to  her  by  the  fear  of  irritating  Allesandro  she  mechanically  unlocked  her 
sacket  and  poured  out  the  coin  into  her  chief  lover's  hands ;  she  was  going  to  add 
her  jewelry  when,  to  her  still  greater  surprise,  Massaroni  rushed  out  as  abrupt 
ly  as  he  had  come,  pocketing  the  money. 

In  a  few  instants,  the  watering-maid  came  in  to  say : 

"  Whatever  will  become  of  us  !  the  signor  has  gone  away  with  a  loaf  of 
bread  under  each  arm,  and  Pietro  with  a  basket  of  wine." 

"  What  can  this  mean  ?"  murmured  Sylvia,  sinking  on  the  sofa.  "  I  am 
ready  to  perish  with  fear." 

"  Keep  up  a  good  heart,  lovely  one,"  said  a  man's  voice,  that  of  Monteafiere, 
"  I'll  run  to  the  casino  and  learn  all.  If  he  has  found  all  out,  believe  me,  you 
will  not  suffer  from  his  anger." 

"What  do  you  mean]  Why,  youth,  he  can  undoubtedly  defeat  you  at 
sword,  stiletto  or  pistolet,"  said  the  courtesan,  seemingly  to  awaken  to  the  su 
periority  of  the  lover  she  deceived  over  her  present  dialoguist. 

Monteatiere  dismissed  the  maid. 

"  i  fight  him,  not  as  duellist,  but  as  an  unconquerable  !"  returned  he  proudly, 
then. 

"Who  are  you  !"  demanded  Sylvia,  letting  a  scrutinizing  look  dwell  upon  his 
face.  "  You're  not  rich,  or  you  would  not  levy  on  me,  whose  love,  too,  you 
nave  forced  from  me.  Who,  who  ?" 

"  Either  tremble  or  be  fearless,  my  cherished  one,  no  matter,"  laughed  the 
young  man ;  "  it  is  true,  anyway,  that  I  bear  a  talisman  that  opens  ail  doors, 
and  puts  all  at  my  command.  I  am  Montal,  the  second  inquisitor,  next  to 
Messer  Grand  himself!" 

"  'Sh !"  gasped  the  woman  with  blanched  cheeks. 

"  But  only  a  lover  to  you,  dear  charmer." 

She  smiled  and  turned  away  playfully,  but,  if  the  executor  of  the  orders  of 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  143 

the  terrible  Ten  had  more  attentively  watched  her,  he  would  have  seen  her 
dash  a  tear  from  her  eyes,  and,  could  he  have  read  her  thoughts — but  few  men 
ever  did  that  to  woman — he  would  have  found  one  thus  : 

"  I  love  Allessandro  more  than  ever  now  that  I  find  I  was  right  to  feel  dis 
gust  at  this  wretch  forcing  himself  on  me !" 

"  Is  it  true  ?"  asked  she  with  cunning. 

"  True  !  Behold  !"  arid  he  triumphantly  flaunted  a  yellow  card  dotted  in 
one  corner  with  a  black  seal,  whose  melted  wax  had  fastened  a  little  ribbon  of 
sable  and  a  gold  stripe  to  it. 

She  shuddered.  That  piece  of  pasteboard  was  as  powerful  as  many  a  noble'* 
purse  or  sword. 

"  I  must  escape  from  the  city,"  she  thought.  "  It  is  worse  than  death  to  bo 
in  his  arms." 

Nevertheless,  she  had  to  resign  herself  to  them  and  assume  her  most  winning 
air.  But  her  unpleasant  task  was  not  long  imposed  upon  her,  and  she  thanked 
whatever  divinity  her  courtesan's  heart  might  worship  when  a  prolonged  knock 
ing  at  the  front  door  of  her  mansion  gave  her  relief. 

Monteafiere  jumped  up  and  did  not  look  to  be  the  fearless  man  he  should 
have  been,  and  he  grasped  his  sword  hilt  with  a  weak  hand,  lie  had  always 
ordered  the  domestics  to  delay  anybody's  entrance  so  as  to  give  him  time  to 
hide  or  to  escape.  It  was  time  to  do  the  latter.  He  hastened  to  press  a  kiss 
upon  the  yielding  yet  plump  lips  of  the  Lais.  She,  while  mechanically  suffer 
ing  the  salute,  used  one  of  her  hands  in  what  appeared  to  be  a  caress  but  was 
that  "  wire  dip"  known  then  as  now  to  pickpockets. 

Monteafiere  rushed  from  the  room  and  upstairs  to  get  away  over  the  roof 
tops,  while  a  sound  of  steps  coming  up  the  stairs  made  him  speed  quicker  and 
the  mistress  smile  in  anticipation. 

"  Allesandro  comes  !  Thank  heaven.  With  this,  we  will  give  Venice  -good 
bye,"  she  said  as  she  looked  at  an  object  in  her  hand. 

The  yellow  card. 

The  steps  approached  and  the  waiting-maid  entered. 

"  Signora,  signora,  Signer  Allesandro  took  Pietro  into  the  alley  of  Santa 
Maria  dell'  Orto,  where  they  found  a  woman  and  a  child  dead — just  dead  of 
hunger —  skin  and  bones,  my  lady  !  Then  the  signor  flung  down  the  bread  and 
was  going  to  fling  away  the  money  he  had  in  his  pockets  when  he  remembered 
himself,  kissed  the  poor  woman  and  child,  wept,  sobbed  himself  quiet  and  then 
rushed  off,  saying  he  was  going  to  pay  his  debts,  first  to  man,  then  to  Nature !" 

"Kill  himself!" 

"  I'm  afraid  so,"  rejoined  the  servant. 

"  My  course  is  clear.     Send  me  Alvarez  the  Spaniard  and  Pietro,  quick." 

As  the  servant  said,  so  had  Massaroni  acted  on  finding  himself  too  late  on 
the  return  to  Isalia.  When  convinced  they  were  beyond  earthly  reach,  he  gave 
way  to  heart-breaking  rage  till  calm  by  exhaustion. 

Subdued  in  appearance  till  not  a  soul  suspected  his  slumbering,  volcanic 
feeling,  he  entered  the  cadfco  which  had  been  the  first  step  of  his  abandonment 
of  the  dead  one.  On  entering,  he  refused  to  drink  with  an  acquaintance,  and 
looked  around  for  some  one.  While  searching,  the  object  of  his  scrutiny  came 
up  to  him  and  suddenly  said  : 

"  Beg  pardon —  wanted  to  see  you —  I've  a  debt  to  pay —  can  you-      '  ?" 

"  Pay  mine,  Pottergeist  1     What  does  such  a  question  mean  ?" 

"Just  what  I  say.     If  you  can  pay  me,  do  so." 

The  ebbed  blood  flowed  into  his  visage  from  his  beart,  but  Massarnoi  oolj 
approached  the  nearest  table  and  flung  upon  it  the  contents  of  his  pockets. 

"  Count,"  said  he  to  the  Austrian. 

"  Three  crowns  short,"  answered  the  latter. 

Allesandro  pulled  a  ring  off  his  finger. 


144  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

"  You  was  with  me  under  the  Palazza  Mocenigo  when  I  bought  it " 

"I'm  satisfied." 

At  this  moment,  one  of  the  coins  slipped  off  to  the  ground. 

"  You  handle  money  less  skilfully  than  cards,"  said  Allesandro  with  raihery, 

"  Do  you  mean  I  cheat  at  play  ?"  furiously  demanded  the  German. 

"  /  mean  what  I  say,"  retorted  the  Italian. 

The  Austrian's  eyes  launched  fire,  while  the  other's  replied  no  less  brilliantly. 
A  circle  began  to  form. 

"  If  you're  not  as  white  of  heart  as  saucy  of  tongue,"  said  Pottergeist.  "  a 
ducth  alone  can  be  what  you're  driving  at." 

Before  the  speaker  had  finished,  Allesandro  did  that  act  which  anybody,  and 
an  Italian  above  all,  considers  the  height  of  insult.  He  spat  in  the  hollow  of 
his  hand  and  slapped  the  German's  cheek.  That  cheek,  and  the  whole  face  of 
course,  grew  white  as  a  virgin  sheet,  and  he  plunged  his  hand  into  his  bosom 
for  a  weapon,  no  doubt,  but  a  murmur  and  the  sight  of  so  many  round  about, 
checked  that  design. 

"  Actions  speak  louder  than  words,"  remarked  Massaroni.  "  I  do  want  a 
duel  to  the  death  with  you,  cheat !" 

"  Single  combat  is  prohibited  strictly,"  said  somebody. 

"  Silence  !"  shouted  twenty  voices,  "  gentlemen  do  not  run  after  the  police  !" 

"  Come  !"  cried  Massaroni,  "  come  into  the  fencing  hall — these  gentlemen 
will  be  seconds  and  witnesses." 

A  rush  was  made  into  the  designated  room,  for  these  casinos  have  reading- 
rooms,  libraries,  and  other  apartments  attached  to  the  drinking-saloon  portion. 
The  door  was  closed.  A  couple  of  foils  had  the  buttons  snapped  off,  leaving  an 
ugly  jjigged  point  on  each. 

*  Before  fighting,  of  course  the  victor  will  be  let  go  undisturbed,"  said 
Pottergeist. 

"  Of  course,"  answered  the  Italian,  "  Venitians  are  too  much  men  of  honor 
not  to  make  that  a  matter  understood.  But  you  shall  not  profit  by  the  leave." 

"  We'll  see — thunder  and  lightning  !" 

The  long  steel  threads  clashed  in  equal  rage  but  with  different  result.  At 
the  first  engagement,  Massaroni's  shirt-sleeve  was  torn  off  his  shoulder,  but  his 
weapon  ran  deeply  into  the  breast  of  the  German  who  dropped  mortally 
wounded. 

"  Away  !"  shouted  all. 

Allessandro  darted  out  of  the  hall  as  if  a  fresh  crime  was  not  burdening  his 
shoulders. 

At  the  door,  he  came  in  contact  with  a  man  running  towards  the  casino.  It 
was  Monteafiere.  With  a  wrestling  trick,  learnt  in  the  country  in  his  youth, 
Allessandro  "gave"  the  runner  "  the  foot,"  and  down  he  sprawled,  his  head 
cracking  against  the  doorpost  in  so  severe  a  way  that  he  was  certain  not  to  re 
vive  for  some  moments.  The  victor  in  this  surprise,  very  quickly  and  tran 
quilly  removed  the  senseless  man's  sword  and  belt  and  set  off  again,  girding  on 
the  baldric  as  he  ran.  ^ 

While  this  was  occurring,  Sylvia  had  secured  her^lwels  on  her  person  and 
at  length,  calling  her  maid  she  gave  her  a  splendid  pair  of  bracelets. 

"  Take  one  of  the  serving  men  and  haste  to  the  Jew  of  whom  the  Count  Cel 
lini  bought  these.  Make  him  give  you  half  of  the  value  in  cash.  Bring  it  to 
San  Marco  Church,  at  once." 

While  this  mission  was  in  progress,  Sylvia  put  on  a  couple  of  cloaks  and 
slipped  out  of  the  house  privately.  The  night  was  growing  darker,  and  the 
courtesan  was  almost  delighted  to  be  under  the  gleam  of  the  pendant  lamps  of 
the  great  cnurch.  She  surveyed  the  interior  carelessly  when  all  of  a  sudden 
her  eves  rested  on  a  form  kneeling  under  a  painting  of  a  minor  saint :  Saint 
Alexander. 


Or,  the  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  145 

She  softly  approached. 

All  was  so  hushed  in  the  lonely  edifice  that  she  heard  her  heart  leap.  It 
was  Massaroni,  praying  to  his  patron  saint. 

Should  he  try  to  retrieve  his  career  of  evil  for  the  sake  of  the  dead  Isalia,  or 
continue  it  for  the  sake  of  his  guilty  self? 

While  he  wavered,  a  pair  of  soft  arms  embraced  him,  and  lips  touched  his 
cheek,  Sylvia  knelt  beside  him  ! 

"  I  love  you.  I  must  leave  the  city  ;  will  you  come  and  be  my  joy ;  or  not, 
and  make  me  a  miserable  outlaw  ?" 

"  I  will  go  with  you !  I  have  killed  Pottergeist  the  German,  and  Montea- 
fiere  perhaps — you  did  not  know  it !" 

"  My  brave  and  gallant  Allessandro — an  Alexander  like  of  old,  I  love  you  all 
the  more  !  Come,  come." 

"  I  was  going  to  leave  the  city "  he  began. 

«  And  I." 

"  And  the  world  !"  added  he  hoarsely. 

"  No,  no,  and  break  my  heart  1     Loved  one,  dear,  my  life  of  lives  !  no,  no  !" 

And  her  lips  found  the  way  to  his  this  time. 

When  the  maid  who  had  been  despatched  on  the  errand  came  to  the  church 
she  found  Massaroni,  gloomy  but  resolved,  beside  her  mistress. 

"  Have  you  the  money  ?"  cried  the  latter. 

"  Yes,  but  I  could  not  be  any  sooner." 

"  Very  well.  Go  home.  All  there  of  mine  is  yours.  Now,  my  Allessandro, 
follow  me  to  the  shore." 

The  rising  wind  and  the  obscurity  foreboded  a  night  such  as  the  fugitives 
wished,  for  the  sbirri  were  sufficiently  dangerous  without  the  moon  to  guide 
them  in  the  chase.  Hasty  steps  suddenly  became  audible  behind  them,  after 
they  had  been  walking  swiftly  for  a  few  seconds ;  they  were  by  one  of  the 
three  hundred  bridges  of  the  Adriatic's  Bride.  They  ran  over  it  and  hid  them 
selves  under  the  hanging  doorway  of  a  second-hand  clothes-man's  shop. 

Several  men  came  along  and  crossed  the  canal  at  a  run. 

"  Keep  on  to  the  left,  while  I  take  the  right  and  see  if  any  of  the  boats  sheltei 
them,"  shouted  a  voice  which  the  listeners  recognized  as  Monteafiere's. 

They  obeyed. 

"  The  safest  course  is  to  follow  the  wretch,"  said  Massaroni.  "  He  is  alone 
and  far  from  dangerous." 

On  he  marched  then,  followed  by  his  mistress.  Soon  they  overtook  Monte- 
afiere,  who  had  stopped  to  awaken  several  gondoliers  and  ask  them  questions 
to  which  he  got  no  satisfactory  answers,  of  course.  He  pursued  his  way  swear 
ing. 

Massaroni  let  him  go  on  for  a  while,  till  he  believed  him  to  be  .far  enough 
off,  when  he  strode  directly  up  to  a  gondolier,  tapped  him  on  the  shoulder  and 
whispered  : 

"  Fifty  ducats  for  a  trip  to  Trieste." 

"  Who  are  you — are  you  the  man  they  are  after  ?"  queried  the  boatman.  rt  1 
shouldn't  take  you  for  a  thousand." 

"  My  man,"  interposed  Sylvia,  "you  run  no  danger.     See !" 

She  displayed  the  yellow  card,  which  put  an  end  to  his  obstinacy. 

"  I'm  ready,"  said  he  to  the  astounded  Massaroni. 

The  two  entered  the  boat,  but,  after  they  had  snugly  ensconced  themselves, 
a  man  presented  himself  just  as  the  gondolier  was  unloosening  the  painter  from 
its  ring.  It  was  Monteafiere. 

"  You're  in  danger,  friend,"  said  he.  "  I  saw  two  shadows  beside  yourself 
here.  I  forbid  you  to  shove  off  in  the  name  of " 

He  had  leaped  on  the  boat,  when  a  beautiful  white  arm — an  arm  which  with 
its  mate  had  often  been  around  him  in  compulsory  embrace — arose  over  hie 


146  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California)  ; 

head,  armed  with  the  end  of  a  broken  oar  and  down  he  went  in  the  doorway 
of  the  cabin.  Massaroni's  hand  could  hardly  have  delivered  a  more  powerful 
blow  than  this  of  Sylvia's. 

"  Push  off!"  said  Allessandro. 

Stimulated  by  fear  as  well  as  by  the  ample  pay,  the  boatman  was  soon  cleav 
ing  the  boisterous  water. 

"  We  are  served  !"  said  Sylvia,  enfolding  her  lover  in  her  arms. 

"But  this  man?  what  will  we  do  with  him?  You  can  hardly  have  killed 
him." 

"  I  hope  so,"  said  she  earnestly.  "  Any  how  he  must  never  look  upon  Venice 
or  the  world  anywhere  again !" 

The  presence  of  Monteanere  was  to  the  courtesan  a  sleeping  horror,  for  one 
word  from  him  would  have  changed  her  companion's  love  into  scorn  and  even 
if  she  revealed  the  true  position  of  the  senseless  wretch,  she  could  not  hope  to 
reinstate  herself.  With  a  strength  which  her  alarm  gave  her,  she  half  raised 
the  lifeless  form  out  of  the  hollow  of  the  boat  and  tried  to  cast  it  overboard. 

"  Stop  !"  cried  Allessandro. 

But  woman's  hate  is  swift ;  the  body  was  already  vanishing  in  the  crested 
waves. 

"  Signor,"  said  the  gondolier,  "  red  galley  is  cruising  to-night.  I  saw  her 
awful  sides  bloodily  shining  in  the  sunset  as  she  went  down  the  port.  What 
shall  I  answer  if  we're  hailed  ?" 

"  There !"  replied  Sylvia,  panting  yet  with  her  emotion,  "  show  them  that 
card.  Trieste,  Trieste,  you  must  haste  to  it." 

Tossing  the  purloined  pasteboard  to  the  man,  she  drew  her  companion  into 
the  little  cabin  and  pressed  him  with  frenzy  to  her  bosom. 

"  We  are  safe !  We  are  happy  !"  said  she. 

Massaroni,  his  brain  too  much  in  a  whirl  for  him  to  think  in  the  least  calmly, 
gave  himself  up  to  repose. 

Meanwhile,  the  storm,  which  had  hung  over  the  Adriatic  for  the  last  two 
hours,  burst  in  all  its  violence,  and  the  billows,  heaved  as  high  as  if  they  were 
those  of  the  broader  Mediterranean.  The  fragile  gondola,  ill  adapted  for  rough 
weather,  hardly  answered  to  the  strokes  of  the  oarsman.  He  called  Msssa- 
roni  to  his  aid  and,  with  an  air  gloomy  though  respectful,  asked  him,  to  try  his 
hand  at  propulsion  until  he  could  take  a  rest. 

"  You  tempted  me  with  your  gold,"  said  he,  "  and  heaven  punishes  me  for 
yielding  to  it.  San  Marco !  do  you  hear :  a  cannon  shot.  If  the  ships  big 
as  houses  are  in  danger,  what  chance  has  my  poor  boat  ?  Row,  sign  or,  for  I 
will  soon  need  all  my  strength — to  swim,  perhaps." 

Allessandro  did  his  best  at  the  oars,  but  his  ]ack  of  skill  rendered  his  good 
will  useless. 

"  We'll  be  broadside  to  it  if  you  go  on  so,"  said  the  gondolier  impatiently. 

"  Take  the  oars  yourself,  sirrah,"  interposed  Sylvia,  who  was  the  most  cour 
ageous  of  all.  "I  double  the  promised  sum  if  you  bring  me  into  Trieste." 

"  That's  something  like  !     But  if  we  go  down — " 

"  We  cannot  help  it.     But  we  will  arrive,  I  say." 

The  man  retook  the  oars,  and  Allessandro  returned  to  sit  beside  his  com 
panion  who,  affecting  weakness  now,  let  herself  recline  on  his  breast).  The 
waves  rose  and  rose,  and  the  thunder,  suddenly  unloosed,  rolled  with  few  intei- 
ruptions.  The  flashes  kept  the  eyes  in  a  state  of  dazzlement. 

Suddenly  the  oars  ceased  to  buffet  the  rollers,  and  the  man  hid  his  face  in 
horny  palms.  A  scream  even  issued  from  Sylvia's  mouth  and  she  turned 
aside  in  horror. 

"  Help,  help  !"  faintly  said  a  voice.  "  In  the  name  of  the  Holy,  give  me 
help !" 

An  enormous  billow  swept  onward  and  broke  near  the  bank.     A  zizzag  of 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  147 

the  electric  fluid  ran  along  the  crest  down  into  the  trough.  Allessandro,  bend 
ing  his  sight  towards  where  had  come  the  voice,  was  seized  like  his  companions 
with  deep  affright,  for  there  seemed  to  stand  amid  the  spray  that  very  Mon- 
teafiere  who  was  deemed  dead. 

In  truth,  only  stunned  by  Sylvia's  blow,  and  brought  to  consciousness  while 
the  plaything  of  the  waters,  he  had  been  taken  off  to  sea  by  a  recoiling  current 
and  caught  by  the  reflux,  was  apparently  driving  back  the  gondola  of  his  slay 
ers.  The  loss  of  blood  which  he  had  experienced  had  made  him  too  weak  to 
swim  and  he  was  still  living  only  by  a  miracle.  On  beholding  the  boat,  a  lit 
tle  hope  had  been  kindled  within  him  and,  not  recognizing  its  occupants,he  had 
gasped  between  two  mouthfuls  of  brine,  his  imploring  cry. 

But  his  hour  had  come ! 

The  second  wave  broke  over  him  and  sent  him  under,  and  the  third  dashed 
him  against  the  gondola,  while  its  snowy  front  reddened  with  his  blood,  and 
nothing  more  was  seen  of  him. 

"  A  spirit !"  said  the  gondolier,  rowing  again.     "  Heaven  have  mercy  on  us 4" 

"  It  will  not  have  mercy  on  me,"  groaned  Massaroni  in  despair.  "  How 
many  horrors  the  last  few  hours  have  deluged  me  with.  Oh,  Sylvia  !  were  it 
not  for  you,  I  would  plunge  into  the  deep  to  join  my  happier  victims." 

The  courtesan,  spray-bedewed,  exhausted,  terrified,  was  too  much  affected  to 
answer.  She  could  not  fill  her  lover  with  energy  which  she  was  far  from  hav 
ing  herself.  Silence  reigned  over  the  bark,  except  the  soughing  of  the  wind 
and  the  prayers  of  the  boatman. 

Finally,  the  tempest  sensibly  abated,  and  the  first  gleams  of  the  dawn 
appeared,  while  the  gondola  became  more  manageable.  The  fugitives  breathed 
again,  and  indulged  in  mutual  caresses.  The  boatman  especially  hailed  the 
daybreak. 

"  Here  we  are  all  right,  I  hope  !  Holy  Virgin  !  but  my  little  boat  has  done 
her  duty — not  a  one  of  my  mates'  could  have  breasted  such  hillocks  of  foam. 
But,  goodness  of  heaven  !  how  are  we  bearing  !  Thunder  !  the  wind  shifted  in 
the  dusk,  and  here  we  are  turned  round  so  that  San  Marco,' s  dome  is  in  sight. 
And — oh,  signer,  signor,  back  into  the  cabin !  here  comes  the  red  galley — hide 
yourselves !" 

Indeed,  from  one  side,  bore  down  upon  the  gondola  a  six-oared  galley  of  an 
appaling  character. 

Blood-red  were  its  sides ;  its  prow  and  stern  and  its  large  cabin,  with  ample 
hangings,  being  scarlet  as  well,  the  only  relief  being  embroidery  in  shiny  black 
silk.  A  lantern  was  stuck  in  the  ornamented  beak,  which  bore  a  gilt  lion,  and 
its  glass  sides,  broken  by  slaps  of  waves,  however,  were  stained  red.  The  oars 
men  were  attired  in  sable  imitation  velvet,  as  were  four  sbirri  holding  muskets. 
As  the  barge  approached,  a  black-robed  man,  wearing  a  silk  mask  and  cap  with 
one  long  plume,  appeared  in  the  cabin  entrance. 

It  had  evidently  been  out  all  night,  and  was  returning  to  Venice. 

"  In  the  name  of  Messer  Grand,  grand  high  servitor  of  the  Inquisitors  of  the 
State  and  prime  executioner  of  the  ever-just  orders  of  the  honored  council  of 
Ten,"  chanted  another  black  robe  appearing  behind  the  first,  evidently  a  secre 
tary,  "  cease  motion,  gondolier  !" 

He  was  obeyed. 

"  You  are  out  early  for  customers  ;  have  you  any  within !"  went  on  the  clerk, 

"  I  couldn't  help  it,  a  will  stronger  than  mine  drove  me  out  of  port,"  answer 
ed  the  gondolier. 

"  Oh,  the  tempest,"  said  the  clerk  who  seemed  in  good  humor. 

"  No,  a  power  higher  even  than  that,"  said  the  boatman,  affecting  &  great  be 
lief  in  his  blasphemy,  as  he  displayed  the  yellow  card  and  jerked  his  thumb  sign- 
ficantly  towards  his  cabin,  which  had  been  the  object  >f  the  Messer's  scrutiny. 


148  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California}  ; 

"  Ah  !"  said  the  latter,  speaking  instead  of  his  clerk  this  time,  "go  on,  sorry 
to  have  detained  you.  Bound  to  Trieste  T' 

The  gondolier  looked  grave  and  important. 

"  Very  well.  Wherever  you  land,  spread  the  news  that  the  murderers  of 
Duke  Doscarli  of  Barberigo  are  caught  and  in  our  power,"  said  the  Messer 
proudly  and  loudly. 

Two  men,  bound  hand  and  foot,  were  indeed  inside  the  cabin  of  the  barge, 
which  now  moved  off  rapidly  under  the  stout  arms  of  the  six  men.  The  little 
gondola  resumed  its  course  until  the  galley  was  a  mere  crimson  dot  on  the  grey 
waters. 

Day  was  come. 

The  gondolier  shipped  his  oars,  entered  the  cabin,  opened  a  locker  and  took 
out  a  bottle,  whose  large  mouth  was  capped  with  a  pewter  cup  which  was  also 
the  stopper.  He  offered  his  patron  a  drink,  which  did  Massaroni  good,  and 
took  two  or  three  times  the  same  dose  with  much  gusto.  He  took  to  the  oars 
again,  fresh  as  a  rose,  he  said : 

"  And  up  comes  the  sun — huzza !  warm  me,  old  boy  of  brightness  !  for  I 
never  hoped  to  see  you  again,  yellow-face !"  said  he. 

The  god  of  gladness  had  indeed  pierced  the  clouds  and  poured  his  startling 
beams  over  the  scarcely  soothed  scene.  The  Adriatic  was  level  enough  to  re 
flect  in  the  distance  the  sails  of  moored  ships,  and  of  fishing  boats  leaving  port. 
The  sky  and  land  were  assuming  that  loveliness  which  is  elsewhere  known  in 
only  Turkey,  India,  Oceanica  and  parts  of  America. 

Massaroni  was  affected  by  the  beauty,  and  by  the  beauty  of  the  woman  by 
his  side.  Her  words  so  coincided  with  his  thoughts  that,  on  landing  at  Trieste, 
Allessandro  Massaroni  was  ready  to  be  whatever  that  enchantress  desired. 
His  all  was  complete. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

LOVER,    LEAD    TO     THB     GIRL, 
FIRE    TO    THE    ROOF  ! THE    DEFEAT. MASSARONl's    AVENGER. 

YEARS  passed,  (continued  Joaquin)  and  Allessandro  the  brigand  had  upreared 
a  barrier  between  him  and  society  of  every  species  of  crime,  cemented  with 
blood.  At  times,  he  entered  the  circles  in  which  he  felt  him  so  stained  and  un 
worthy,  but  the  end  always  was,  a  new  exploit  and  a  deeper  dive  into  the  abyss 
of  guilt.  The  mountains  were  his  retreat.  He  was  head  of  a  band  of  adven 
turers,  outlaws  like  himself. 

It  was  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  but  the  bright  sun  but  dimly  flittered 
through  the  brushwood  and  a  winding  entrance  into  a  large  cavern,  half  natural, 
half  artificial. 

Forty  or  fifty  men  with  nearly  as  many  females  were  drinking  and  revelling 
by  the  light  of  some  fine  wax  tapers  which  had  been  intended  for  the  churches, 
but  had  been  captured  by  the  banditti. 

At  the  head  of  the  immense  but  rough  table,  strangely  covered  with  rich 
damask,  more  plunder,  and  plate,  were  a  young  man  and  a  woman  not  young, 
but  so  exceedingly  bewitching  and  supeib  yet  that  no  one  could  fail  to  recog 
nize  Sylvia  the  courtesan  of  Beautiful  Venice. 

"  He's  gone  again ;  oh,  how  can  Allessandro  so  leave  me  ?"  sighed  she. 

"  All  the  better !  may  it  be  for  the  halter,"  said  her  young  gallant,  embracing 
her. 

"  No,  no,"  cried  another  of  the  band,  "  if  he  is  ever  to  be  taken,  let  us  give 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  149 

him  up,  along  with  Carlotti,  and  receive  pardon  with  the  reward.  But  you're  so 
eager  to  succeed  to  Massaroni ;  yes,  you  are,  Giulio,  that  you  forget  even  your 
own  interest." 

Giulio,  as  he  was  called,  laughed,  and,  encircling  Sylvia's  waist,  kissed  her  un 
ceremoniously. 

"  You  see,  as  regards  fair  Sylvia,  I  have  already  entered  into  the  succession, 
The  command  of  the  troop  comes  next.  With  her,  1  will  have  the  secret  of  Al- 
lessandro's  treasure.  She  alone,  with  Carlotti,  knows  where  it  is  buried. 

The  courtesan,  who  was  thus  playing  false,  was  immersed  in  reverie,  yield 
ing  herself  to  Giulio's  words.  At  these  last  words  she  started  : 

"  The  treasure  !"  echoed  she  ;  "  yes,  I  do  know  where  it  is,  and  it  was  by 
my  advice  that  Allessandro  concealed  it  past  all  your  searches.  So  long  as 
that  is  secret,  he  can  trust  himself  among  you  ;  it  is  a  curb  to  your  thoughts 
of  treachery,  for  you  have  no  cause  to  injure  him,  if  I  have." 

Excited  by  drink,  for  she-  drank  like  the  thirstiest  man  among  them,  sho 
stood  up  and  waved  her  arms  over  the  table,  like  a  priestess  of  antiquity. 

"  Oh,  I  would  give  all  you,  my  love,  that  treasure,  to  have  Allessandro  all 
mine  again.  I  loved  him  with  a  true  love  !  Yes,  look  at  ino  in  surprise  ! 
what  care  I  ?  When  I  see  Allessandro  moody,  when  I  hear  him  curse  and 
swear  in  reply  to  my  passionate  words,  when,  exhausted  by  my  entreaties,  I 
wait  for  one  kiss  or  one  word  to  prove  he  will  be  the  Massaroni  of  old  still 
again,  when  I  am  crouched  at  his  feet  like  a  slave — when  he  then  repulses 
rne — Oh,  I'd  give  the  world  to  make  things  otherwise  !  no  wonder  I  threw 
myself  into  your  arms,  Giulio;  wounded  pride,  scorned  love,  make  me  yours. 
I  laugh,  sing,  and  chatter,  but  my  tortures  won't  sleep — will  they  ever  ?" 

She  tossed  off  a  great  cup  of  a  hot  preparation  of  wine,  spices,  and  limes. 

"  But  if  my  Allessandro — handsome,  brave  Allessandro — becomes  once 
more  the  man  who  so  well  answered  to  my  love,  I  will  forget  all.  But  ho 
rejects  me,  and  if  ever  he  is  mine,  'tis  only  when  liquor  has  mastered  him. 
Malediction  !  perhaps  he  loves  elsewhere  !  no  doubt  he  does !  Who,  who  ? 
I'll — I'll  make  her  heart  bleed  !  Jealous,  jealous — that's  the  word  for  my 
lite.  Drink  drink,  let  me  drown  my  woes,  let  me  forget  how  I  sowed,  how 
I  reap  !" 

Another  goblet  she  emptied,  and  fell  into  Giulio's  arms.  The  robbers  laughed 
at  her  ravings. 

"  She's  half  drunk,  Giulio,"  whispered  some  one.  "  Give  her  more,  and  talk 
the  secret  out  of  her." 

"  You  lie,  knave,  I  have  all  my  reason,"  said  Sylvia^  fiercely.  "  Sing,  Guilio, 
sing  !  Shout,  roar,  you  men !" 

The  orgie  arose  more  frantically  than  ever,  and  all  were  as  joyful  as  if  they 
did  not  hatch  treason  against  the  chief. 

Where  was  he?  Wending  his  was  unsuspiciously  towards  the  little  village 
of  Velma,  on  the  banks  of  the  Isonzo  River. 

The  mayor  of  this  hamlet  has  finished  his  late  dinner  of  grapes  and  coarse 
bread,  and  was  enjoying  the  siesta,  so  welcome  to  a  man  of  fifty  like  him. 

As  he  was  aroused  by  ringing  of  the  church  bell,  he  sat  up,  stamped  his  foot 
angrily  and  cried  : 

"  Rosalia !  Rosalia  !  curses  on  your  love  of  dress.  She'll  make  me  lose  my 
mayorality.  Rosalia  !  it's  time." 

"  So  I  thought,  and  I'm  ready,"  said  a  very  pretty  girl,  appearing  in  the 
porch  suddenly.  "  Am  I  well  enough  looking  f 

"  Five  hundred  times  better  bait  than  the  shark  dsserves  !  you  look  like  a 
bride." 

"  Much  you  know  of  dress  to  say  that,  father.  I  hope  to  be  much  gayer 
when  I  wed  the  Lieutenant  Salvator  Rocco." 


150  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

"  You've  too  much  tongue !  if  you  keep  on  chattering,  the  vulture  may  be  on 
the  wing ;  then  good-bye  to  my  mayoralty  and  Salvator's  captaincy  in  pros 
pect.  Go,  go,  my  dear  Rose,  lose  no  time.  Heaven  guard  you.  Be  prudent. 
Settle  things  as  we  have  agreed.  Oh,  women,  women,"  mused  he  as  his 
daughter  fluttered  up  the  road,  "  what  vines  to  train  properly.  She  is  as  good 
as  the  best,  and  yet  she's  not  worth  the  rope  that  hangs  her." 

While  this  parental  and  philosophical  opinion  was  being  expressed,  the  sub 
ject  of  it  was  threading  the  defiles  of  the  mountains,  where  the  shadows  began 
to  thicken. 

She  did  not  perceive  that  a  man  was  following  her  at  a  great  distance. 

He  wore  the  green  and  yellow  uniform  of  the  royal  border  guard,  and  was 
the  Lieutenant  already  mentioned. 

He  carried  his  sword  ready  drawn  in  his  hand. 

"  Confound  it !"  ejaculated  he  at  last  "  now,  which  way  did  she  go  1  I  ought 
to  have  kept  closer  to  her." 

He  had  lost  his  pilot,  but  he  did  not  give  up  the  search. 

At  length  after  an  hour's  rambling,  he  crept  up  to  a  thicket,  where  a  man's 
voice  alternated  with  Rosalia's  softer  one. 

Could  the  officer  have  seen  as  well  as  he  heard,  he  would  have  bounded  in 
stantly  to  the  spot.  Allessandro  the  brigand  was  replacing  the  meaner  earrings 
of  the  girl  with  another  pair,  which  a  princess  might  have  envied.  Were  the 
diamonds  as  pure  as  they  seemed  ?  Not  likely,  for  they  had  come  by  the  chal 
lenge  of  "  Stand  and  deliver  !" 

Rosalia  could  suspect  this,  but  she  made  no  resistance,  either  from  indiffer 
ence  to  their  origin  or  from  yielding  to  a  delight  for  jewelry  which  many  fe 
males  old  and  young  have  a  weakness  for. 

"  How  handsome !"  breathed  she. 

"  Never  mind  them,  Rose  of  love,"  murmured  the  mountain  chief,  "  I  implore 
jrou  to  ba  my  friand — friend,  friend!  for  can  I  ask  tha  greater  title?  Oh,  I 
have  so  oftan  baen  visited  by  your  image,  so  often  have  tried  to  kiss  you  in 
dreams  !  But  waking  or  sleeping,  I  have  always  respected  you  as  a  sister.  I 
never  had  a  sister,  Rose  !  You  are  weeping,  child " 

She  was  weeping,  more  over  herself  than  for  Allessandro,  but  she  could  not 
lay  bare  the  source  of  her  burning  tears. 

"  Have  you  indeed  pity  even  for  me,  Massarcni  the  brigand?"  ' 

"  Massaroni !"  echoed  Lieutenant  Salvator,  whose  sword  clanked  in  his  ner 
vous  grasp. 

A  silence  ensued.  The  robber  was  awaiting  the  response  which  the  young 
girl  could  not  utter.  Her  hand  was  in  his  own  ;  he  drew  her  to  him,  their 
hearts  heat  against  one  another — not  as  one  !  Was  it  an  augury  ?  thought  the 
bandit. 

"  What  must  I  say  T  she  murmured,  her  tear-bathed  face  close  to  his  burn 
ing  one. 

The  contact  of  her  pure  breath  on  his  lips  that  had  been  often  scorched  by 
the  fiery  Sylvia,  fanned  the  flame  within  him.  He  kissed  her  fervently.  Sud 
denly  she  tore  herself  from  his  enclasping  arms,  and  moaned  : 

"  I  am  a  wretch  !     Do  you  know  why  I  am  here  ?" 

Truth  and  the  spur  of  conscience  were  the  stronger,  and  doubtlessly  she  would 
have  told  the  robber  what  an  infamous  part  she  had  been  induced  to  perform, 
but  the  listener  had  judged  it  high  time  to  interfere,  and  made  his  unexpected 
appearance,  sword  in  hand. 

"  To-morrow,  she  was  to  sell  you  to  us,"  cried  Salvator,  falling  upon  Massa 
roni.  "  I  gain  a  day,  brigand,  in  taking  you  now  !" 

The  lieutenant  had  understood  in  an  instant  the  whole  plot  of  his  would-be 
father-i'n-law. 

But  the  officer's  impetuosity  was  useless  to  him  ;  quicker  than  he,  Allessandro 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  151 

had  leaped  up,  put  aside  the  thrust  with  one  arm,  and  plunged  his  dagger  into 
his  breast.  The  lieutenant  fell  forward  on  his  face,  and  drove  the  blade  up  to 
the  very  hilt  by  striking  the  ground.  Not  a  word,  groan  or  sound  did  he  make. 

Rosalia  had  fallen  on  her  knees  before  the  outlaw,  whose  tall  form  towered 
over  the  dead  man  and  her,  who  was  half  expiring. 

"  Did  that  man  speak  true  ?"  inquired  Allessandro  in  a  hoarse  tone,  as  he 
drew  a  pistol. 

"  Yes,  but  listen — I  would  not  have  betrayed  you,  for  I  love " 

An  ironical  laugh  and  the  report  of  the  fire-arm  was  all  the  answer  to  this 
exclamation  coming  from  the  depths  of  the  poor  girl's  heart.  A  second  corpse 
poured  out  its  warm  blood  on  the  soil  which  had  drank  up  the  man's. 

"  The  whole  world  is  against  me !"  yelled  the  brigand,  hurling  his  weapon 
far  from  him,  and  rushing  into  the  wood.  "  Purity  and  innocence  are  leagued 
against  me.  I  will  war  now  to  the  death  F" 

About  an  hour  after*  dark,  some  one  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  mayor's 
cottage.  Thinking  it  was  his  belated  daughter  returned  at  last,  he  hurried 
down  to  open  it. 

"  Well,  have  your  winning  ways " 

"  They  brought  her  death — there  it  is !"  shouted  Allessandro,  felling  him  to 
the  ground. 

With  a  rage  that  awoke  all  his  immense  energy,  he  burst  into  the  house,  flung 
an  old  servant  whom  he  met  from  top  to  bottom  of  the  stairs,  kicked  the  fire 
round  the  room  and  with  one  brand  kindled  the  beds.  He  sallied  out  with  a 
last  kick  at  the  mayor's  body  that  sent  it  away  out  into  the  garden,  and  tossed 
his  torch  into  the  barn  as  he  ran  past.  The  blaze  sent  its  rays  even  to  the  moun 
tain  haunt. 

"  Friends,"  thundered  the  brigand,  as  he  appeared  before  the  carousers,  "  I 
have  heard  your  mutterings.  Come  out  and  -see  if  Massaroni  the  brigand  has  a 
dead  hand !" 

A  few  of  the  drunkards  staggered  out  to  glance  at  the  conflagration,  which 
was  spreading  in  the  hamlet,  and  then  dropped  into  the  cave  again. 

"The  g — g — good  old  Captain  again  !"  stammered  one.  "  Hurray  for  the  old 
times  c — come  again  !" 

"  Sylvia,  here  !"  roared  the  brigand  chief  crazily.  "  Some  drink,  and  your 
glorious  self!" 

Sylvia  crawled  tremblingly  up  to  her  master's  feet  and  executed  slavishly 

whatever  he  drunkenly  demanded. 

*#*##**#* 

When  the  news  of  these  three  murders  spread  throughout  the  district,  great 
indignation  and  wrath  was  excited.  People  became  ashamed  of  their  fears  of 
the  band,  and  their  courage  was  fed  by  the  reinforcements  of  troops  that  were 
sent  into  the  region. 

The  banditti  spies  informed  him  of  all  the  preparations  which  had  become  so 
formidable  that  flight  alone  offered  itself.  The  cave  was  sure  to  be  found  out 
eventually. 

Massaroni  made  the  valuables  be  packed  and  had  all  his  force  in  readiness  to 
move  that  night.  Darkness  was  necessary  for  the  march  unseen  of  so  many 
men. 

"  Giulio,"  ordered  the  chief,  "  send  out  the  men  to  scout  and  study  the  ground 
for  our  move  to-night." 

Three  of  the  bandits  started  off,  after  receiving  private  instructions  from  tho 
traitor.  They  boldly  descended  from  the  heights,  and  as  boldly  followed  tho 
highway.  Before  long  they  came  upon  a  sentinel  who  cried  out  "  to  arms  !"  and 
levelled  his  musket  at  them. 

A  corporal  and  his  squad  surrounded  the  trio  and  marched  them  along  with 


152  Joaquin,   (the  Claude  Duval  of  California) ; 

them  into  the  presence  of  a  number  of  soldier's  and  country  police.  The  ban. 
dits  began  to  repent  of  their  imprudence. 

u  Who  are  you  T' 

"  Outlaws." 

"  Aha !"  said  the  speaker,  the  new  mayor  of  Velma,  "  so  you  belong  to  those 
wretches,  whom  we're  going  to  settle  ?" 

"  We  did  belong  to  them  of  late.  We  have  come  to  propose  a  treaty,  by 
•which  we  will  give  you  up  our  leader  Massaroni,  who  is  the  really  guilty  man." 

"A  treaty!"  said  the  colonel  commanding.  "Well  you  are  a  saucy  set. 
We  will  have  your  leader  and  all  his  crew  without  striking  hands  with  you,  my 
fine  fellows.  The  mountain  is  covered  with  troops." 

"  You'll  only  lose  the  lives  of  many  a  brave  man,  sir.  Give  me  and  my 
friends  here  and  the  others  we  left  behind,  our  lives,  and  you  shall  have  our  cap 
tain  bound  like  a  sheep,  in  half  an  hour." 

"  You're  a  shame-faced  knave,"  said  the  officer.  . 

"  Colonel  Lucca,"  replied  the  bandit,  "  two  years  ago  you  did  not  call  your 
comrade  Cesario  Marani  that." 

The  blood  flushed  up  in  the  officer's  face. 

"  On  my  soul !  you  are  Cesario — the  lieutenant  in  my  Albanian  regiment  two 
years  ago  !  you  in  such  company  ?" 

"  Who  could  help  it,  Colonel,  a  lieutenant's  pay  is  petty.  Stretch  a  point  for 
an  old  friend  and  fellow  soldier,  and  let  me  go  sardine-catching  the  rest  of  my 
life." 

At  the  word  "  friend"  used  by  a  bandit  to  an  officer  so  proud  as  he,  the  Col 
onel's  confusion  changed  into  wrath. 

"  My  friend  the  Mayor,"  said  he,  turning  to  that  official.  "  I  flatter  myself  that 
my  character  is  above  this  rogue's  aspersions.  I  did  know  him,  true  enough, 
but  he  had  not  so  deeply  disgraced  himself.  He  wants  me  to  stretch  a  point  for 
him  for  the  sake  of  Auld  Lang  Syne,  does  he  !  Mr.  Mayor,  have  the  kindness 
to  make  him  stretch  one  out  of  the  bundle  of  rope  we  have  along  with  us." 

"  We  are  under  flag  of  truce,"  said  Cesario  stoutly.  "  We  are  sacred  accord 
ing  to  the  laws  of  war." 

"  We'll  sacrifice  you,  my  gallant  wolves,  and  so  we  will  your  mates,"  said  the 
Colonel. 

"  If  you  delay  us,  Massaroni  will  escape !" 

"  But  you'll  not  escape,"  said  the  mayor.  "  Finish  with  these  rascals,"  added 
he  to  a  couple  of  ugly  devils  who  looked  like  the  hangmen  they  were.  "  Their 
own  confession  convicts  them.  Any  tree  will  be  good  enough  gibbet." 

The  three  robbers  stared  at  one  another.  They  had  not  foreseen  any  such  dis 
agreeable  sequel  to  their  faithlessness,  and  could  hardly  realize  their  position. 

"  You'll  regret  what  you're  doing,  my  sirs,"  said  Cesario,  essaying  to  talk 
himself  out  of  the  scrape.  "  The  true  and  only  guilty  one  of  all  the  crimes  set 
down  to  us,  is  our  captain.  We  poor  fellows  never  shed  blood." 

"Well,  we'll  not  shed  yours,  be  satisfied,"  interrupted  the  mayor  impatiently. 

On  his  sign,  the  two  Jack  Ketches  stepped  up  to  the  bandits  to  pinion  them, 
but  their  approach  restored  the  wretches  their  energy.  They  were  disarmed, 
but  they  knocked  aside  the  soldiers  and  rushed  for  cover  of  the  bushes. 

"  Fire  !"  shouted  the  colonel. 

A  rattle  of  musketry  resounded,  and  two  of  the  fugitives  were  seen  dimly 
through  the  smoke  to  fall,  riddled  with  lead,  among  the  brush.  Cesario  hesi 
tated  a  moment,  half  fell,  but,  almost  instantly,  resumed  his  flight  up  the  accliv 
ity  and  vanished  from  the  clumsier  pursuers. 

"  You,  fellows,  must  get  your  hand  in,"  remarked  the  mayor  facetiously. 
"  String  up  those  two." 

In  a  trice,  the  bleeding  bodies  swung  in  the  air  from  the  nearest  tree. 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  153 

"  That  volley  will  have  given  the  banditti  the  alarm,  colonel,"  observed  the 
mayor. 

"  No  matter.  My  orders  are  out  for  the  advance  from  all  sides.  The  wretches 
are  surrounded." 

The  outlaws  had  heard  the  discharge,  but  they  waited  still.  Several  of  them 
with  cords  ready,  had  kept  near  Massaroni,  to  bind  him  at  the  signal  from 
Giulio. 

All  of  a  sudden,  quickly  falling  footsteps  were  heard  and  Cesario  appeared, 
his  hand  deeply  buried  in  his  side,  his  lips  red  with  an  internal  bleeding,  his  eyes 
a-glow,  in  every  lineament  and  every  limb — except  that  no  triumph  was  on  his 
brow — a  model  of  the  Spartan  youth  who  ran  himself  to  death  to  brii^  the  news 
of  the  battle  to  the  Senate. 

"  They  give  no  quarter — fight,  fight,  and  avenge  us,  comrades  !"  gasped  he  with 
bloody  foam  between  every  word.  "  They  come  !  may  this  wipe  out  my — my 
treach — er — y  !" 

He  fell  back  into  his  friend's  arms,  a  corpse. 

"  Thank  heaven  !"  murmured  Sylvia,  who  ran  to  Massaroni  and  embraced  him 
with  a  joy  he  could  not  understand.  "  Your  only  hope,  my  men,  is  in  your  pro 
tector  and  chief!" 

"  Massaroni  forever  !"  was  the  universal  cry. 

Giulo  had  no  longer  a  party. 

"  Read  $  all !"  said  Allessandro,  "  ready  all  for  ploughing  our  way  through  the 
foe  ?" 

«  All !  all !" 

Giulio  instantly  set  out  with  the  women  and  baggage,  and  a  sufficient  escort, 
with  orders  to  use  the  secret  ways  he  so  well  knew.  Scouts  went  out  at  the 
8ame  time,  but  very  soon  returned.  From  every  quarter,  they  said,  the  enemy 
was  advancing. 

"  Captain,"  reported  the  last,  "  I  saw  from  the  mountain's  brow,  two  men 
hanged.  They  must  be  our  poor  friends." 

"  NO  doubt."  Bancroft  L9nri 

"  The  southern  denies  are  full  of  countrymen,"  said  this  same  man,  "  they  are 
not  well  armed  and  we  can  beat  them." 

"  Very  well.  We  will  do  it.  But  if  we  must  fly,"  added  Massaroni,  "  still 
will  we  avenge  our  comrades.  Follow  me." 

Giulio  was  gone,  and  with  him  his  baleful  influence.  The  outlaw  had  re-as 
sumed  his  former  tone  of  command  which  admitted  of  no  reply.  The  state  of 
things,  too,  permitted  no  grumbling  or  wavering.  They  followed  their  captain, 
who  penetrated  a  little-used  branch  of  the  subterraneous. 

Three  kegs  of  powder  had  been  properly  arranged,  with  a  match,  which  the 
last  of  the  file  was  to  ignite.  The  banditti  streamed  along  hurriedly,  laden  with 
spoil  and  weapons,  in  haste  to  quit  the  underground  retreat  which  had  so  long 
been  their  asylum  and  was  soon  to  be  fatal  to  their  hunters. 

They  breathed  the  fresh  air  at  length,  having  come  out  on  a  distant  hill-side 
of  which  they  had  never  suspected  the  connection  with  their  place  of  refuge. 
The  rearguard  had  fired  a  few  shots  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  cavern. 

"  That  will  not  fail  to  attract  them,"  said  Massaroni.  "  May  a  thousand  of  our 
enemies  meet  death  for  their  blood-thirstiness." 

Almost  as  ho  spoke,  and  while  all  watched,  a  sound  as  of  distamt  thunder 
rumbled,  and  the  ground  shook.  A  tall  pyramid  of  flame,  smoke  and  dust,  in 
termingled  with  huge  masses  of  rock  and  fragments  of  trees,  rose  and  stood  on 
its  point,  where  the  cavern  had  been.  All  fell  thereupon,  and  the  earth  quaked 
once  more,  till  a  more  profound  silence  reigned  all  around. 

A  very  distant  detonation  broke  it  first  of  all. 

"  Giulio  has  cut  his  way  through,"  exclaimed  the  brigand  chief,  after  listen 
ing.  Good !  Let  us  try  our  luck  against  the  clods  in  the  southern  passes." 


154  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

They  tried  their  chance  against  the  peasantry  who,  poorly  armed  as  they 
were,  nevertheless,  made  such  a  resistance  that  no  more  than  fifteen  of  the  rob 
bers  contrived  to  break  through  the  lines.  The  rest,  dead  or  crippled,  fell  into 
the  countrymen's  hands.  Massaroni  bleeding  at  seven  wounds  from  club, 
pitchfork  and  scythe-pole,  and  with  a  broken  arm,  made  the  victorious  party 
forget  how  many  had  perished  in  the  blown-up  cave. 

Massaroni  was  hanged,  though  Giovanni  Carlotti,  his  faithful  lieutenant  (who 
had  unfortunately  not  been  at  his  side  during  his  captain's  last  adventures) 
made  a  galliant  attempt  to  escape  him. 

For  three  nights,  soldiers  watched  the  gibbet  to  prevent  a  rumored  trial  to 

obtain  the  body.     On  the  fourth,  it  was  removed  by  whom  none  knew. 
********* 

Months  passed. 

.         .         A  man  was  swiftly  dragging  a  woman  along 

up  the  side  of  a  mountain.     The  man  was  Giulio  the  traitor,  she  Sylvia.     Not 
a  word  left  the  lips  of  either,  as  they  ran  upwards. 

Suddenly  Sylvia  stopped,  wrenched  free  her  arm,  and  sat  herself  down  on  a 
large  table  of  stone  that  jutted  over  a  tremendously  deep  precipice.  In  the 
valley  below,  the  first  object  that  attracted  the  eyes  of  anybody  was  a  little 
mound  on  the  side  of  the  hollow,  which  earned  its  prominence  from  being 
covered  with  a  coarsely  hewn  but  beautiful  slab  of  marble,  white  as  white  could 
be.  On  it  were  riveted  the  eyes  of  the  seated  woman. 

"Why,  Sylvia,  what  ails  you  V  growled  Giulio,  seeing  that  she  seemed  de 
termined  not  to  move.  "  Forget  your  fatigue  till  we  give  them  the  slip." 

She,  with  an  effort,  removed  her  gaze  from  that  snowy  spot  on  the  dark 
green  and  brown,  and  regarded  the  speaker  fixedly.  She  shook  her  head,  and 
responded  : 

"  I  wish  to  avoid  my  thoughts,  not  our  comrades  who  follow  us." 

"  Oh,  none  of  your  nonsense,  Sylvia.  Massaroni's  dead,  and  you  ought  to  bo 
satisfied  now." 

"  Dead  !  so  he  is,  for  that  (and  she  pointed)  is  the  grave  of  the  leader  you 
sought  to  sell." 

"  That !"  echoed  he,  following  the  direction  of  her  wasted  arm,  extending 
downward. 

"  Under  that  slab,  no  whiter,  no  purer  than  was  his  soul  when  J  first  won  him  to 
my  breast,  lies  Allessandro  Massaroni,  whom  I  made  a  brigand,"  said  the  cour 
tesan,  becoming  beautiful  again  and  magical  in  tone  from  the  truthfulness  of 
her  speech.  "  Carlotti  and  1  there  interred  him." 

"  The  deuce.  Who'd  have  dreamed  that's  where  he  vanished.  But,  a  truce 
to  that.  Haste  Sylvia,  till  we  avoid  our  too  good  friends,  and  unearth  the 
treasure  you  know  of,  alone.  Come;  come,  we  will  roll  in  riches  and  luxury  ! 
Quick,  I  fear  I  hear  them !  Come,  you  strange  woman.  I  love  you — you 
ought  to  give  me  the  treasure  !  Up,  up  !  Satan  seize  you — they  come  !  Will 
you  rise  !  'S  death, swallow  me,  but  you  shall  come  !" 

Putting  forth  all  his  strength,  he  tried*  to  lift  the  smiling  woman,  but  she 
said  bitterly  : 

"  Too  late,  my  dear  Giulio  !" 

True,  for  a  number  of  the  bandits  appeared  and  surrounded  their  captain, 
threatiiiirly  demanding  a  reason  for  his  flight. 

"  You  are  cheating  us — We  own  as  much  of  the  spoil  as  you — You  promised 
us  fair  shares  or  we  wouldn't  have  turned  on  Massaroni  arid  left  Carlotti  after 
— We'll  make  your  life  answer  for  your  false  play — Kill  him  ! — The  treasure, 
the  treasure,  Giulio,  or  I'll  knife  you,  by  the  ears  of  Saint  Paul !"  were  some 
of  their  savage  outcries. 

"  Sylvia,  where  is  the  hiding  place  ?"  cried  others.  "  Your  blood  or  the 
money  !" 


Or,  The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  155 

The  woman  started  as  if  the  barb  had  touched  a  bleeding  wound. 

She  knew — who  does  not  too  soon  find  it  out  ? — that  she  was  no  longer  tho 
handsome  woman  she  had  once  been,  when  she  was  the  admired  of 
every  young  man  that  know  her.  That  was  in  the  days  of  her  innocence, 
when  even  the  hint  of  an  evil  thought  would  purple  her  round  cheek, 
when  she  could  look  up  at  an  image  of  the  Madonna  with  eyes  innocent  as 
her  own.  No  wonder  that  the  fallen  woman  started. 

But  she  regained  her  coolness  by  an  effort  and  rejoined : 

"  In  my  abasement,  I  am  still  above  you,  for  a  grand  and  noble  passion 
burns,  if  impurely,  still  in  my  heart.  I  have  said  I  will  not  go  with  you,  so 
leave  me.  Must  I  eternally  repeat  it  ?" 

" But  how  can  you  drag  out  existence?  Alone  now  in  the  cruel  world,  you 
have  but  me  to  lean  on,  I  love  you,  do  you  hear  ?  Come  !" 

Not  a  syllable  did  she  make  answer  with.  Giulio  and  the  others  fancied 
that  she  was  selecting  and,  to  make  her  decide,  they  drew  nearer. 

"  Giulio  hits  it,"  said  one,  "  where  will  you  go,  if  not  with  him  or  us  ?  of 
course  he  loves  you  yet,  you  are  bella  donna  still,  the  pride  of  the  band,  by 
San  Pietro  del  Castello,  I'll  swear  to  that !" 

"  Have  done  with  this  !"  broke  in  others,  the  more  ferocious. 

Giulio,  seeing  their  choler  rise  anew  grasped  the  woman  by  the  arm  rudely. 

"  You  have  promised  us  the  treasure.     Yield  it,  or " 

"  Or,  what  ?"  returned  she,  not  even  shrinking  at  the  pain. 

"  I  will  make  you  sorry  !" 

"  Strike  me,  dastard  !"  exclaimed  the  robber's  mistress,  flaming  up  into  the 
spirited  courtesan  of  younger  days. 

"  Worse  than  that !  I'll — I'll  hurl  thee  over  into  this  abyss,  only  less  deep 
than  the  gap  to  hell !" 

"  Coward  !  enough  !" 

So  saying,  she  rose,  shook  him  off  as  if  he  were  a  feather  and  his  grasp  a 
child's,  and  stood  up  before  all  the  brigands.  She  drew  from  her  bosom  a  key 
which  became  the  the  pole-star  to  their  eyes. 

"  With  this  bit  of  bronze,"  she  began  in  measured  tone.  "  I  can  make  each 
of  ye  richer  than  a  Russian  noble,  an  English  lord,  a  French  duke,  an  Orsini 
or  a  Borgia !  But  on  one  condition  !" 

They  moved  their  lips  in  avidity  and  in  mute  promise  of  accepting  any 
proposition. 

"  I  left  Allessandro,"  continued  she,  "  because  he  shunned  me  and  wounded 
my  pride.  Do  you  think  I  would  bear  more,  scorn  and  insult,  from  this 
Giulio,  who  only  reigned  over  me  by  help  of  my  jealousy  1  He  threatens  to 
hurt,  to  kill  me — he  is  only  fit  for  woman-murder!  Let  him  die,  and  the 
\thole  is  yours!  He  tried  to  rob  you  ol  your  shares — avenge  yourselves  !" 

At  first  astounded  by  the  unexpected  outbreak,  Giulio  speedily  recovered  him 
self.  He  drew  his  knife  and  moved  towards  his  denouncer. 

"  If  you  touch  me,  this  beldame  dies !"  screamed  he  with  ghastly  face. 

But  the  eager  subjects  of  rapacity  had  had  their  impatience  augmented  by  the 
fresh  temptation  which  Sylvia  had  with  the  subtlety  that  her  sex,  learnt  of  the 
Serpent  (so  they  say),  glittered  before  them. 

Giulio  had  barely  spoken  the  words  above,  than  he  leaped  in  air,  perforated 
by  a  score  of  balls.  His  blood  actually  spirted  on  Sylvia,  who  watched  him, 
fiendishly  rejoicing,  as  he  writhed  in  the  last  gasp. 

"  He's  gone,"  said  one  of  the  slayers',  busy  stripping  the  body.  Now  for 
your  promise." 

Sylvia  mounted  up  on  the  great  flat  crag  that  had  been  her  seat,  and  from  that 
pedestal,  said  exaltedly  : 

"  The  place  whither  I  go  is  far  away.     Ye  who  hearken  to  me  and  ask  mo  to 


156  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California]  ; 

guide  you  into  possession  of  a  treasure   beyond  price,  shall  not  be  deceived  in 
your  hopes.     But  have  you  the  courage  to  follow  me?" 

"  Guide  us,  and  you'll  see,"  said  all  in  one  voice. 

"  The  journey  is  long,  but  the  way  easy." 

"  Spsak.     Whither  ?     To  the  world's  end  we'd  go  ? 

"  So  eager,  eh  T  continued  she,  but  turning  to  hover  over  the  awful  gulf. 
"  Come  !  I  know  of  no  treasure  so  priceless  as  that  in  yonder  grave  !  I  lead  to 
it — Allessandro,  my  love — or — " 

Before  a  hand  could  check  her,  the  woman  had  leaped  away  out  into  the 
chasm.  In  the  calm  air  she  turned  twice  or  thrice,  but  struck  upon  the  slab 
many  feet  beneath  which  had  been  the  aim  of  her  terrific  leap.  She  rolled  off  it, 
a  mangled  corpse.  Its  white  was  splashed  with  blood. 

A  curse  from  the  lips  of  all  the  baffled  men  was  the  sound  that  followed  her 
in  the  fall  to  meet  her  death  rattle  coming  up  ! 

******** 

The  extreme  prudence,  over  caution  we  may  say,  which  the  captain  had  gen- 
eraly  exercised,  was  displayed  in  the  trifling  case  we  cite.  One  evening  when 
he  felt  thirsty  and  yet  dared  not  go  into  a  public  house,  he  sent  to  San  Jose 
from  the  rancho  an  Indian  to  get  him  a  bottle  of  brandy.  Hardly  had  his  mes 
senger  departed  than  a  misgiving  seized  him,  he  jumped  upon  his  horse,  made 
a  circuit,  cut  off  the  redskin  and  killed  him  on  the  road  passing  Coyote  Creek. 

Such  were  the  unceasing  tolls  executed  by  the  brigands  throughout  the  state, 
such  their  violence,  cruelty,  rapacity,  in  all  their  acts,  that  the  people  could 
not  stand  it  any  longer. 

It  was  no  joke  to  hard  working  men  in  the  towns  or  the  mines  when  Jim  or 
Joe,  hearing  the  cry  "  Bill  or  Tom's  found  dead — murdered  by  those  bloody 
devils  of  Joaquin's  !"  would  throw  down  tools  and  sling  one  leg  over  a  horse  and 
gallop  off  with  Dick  and  Harry  to  try  to  catch  the  assassins. 

So  the  "  hard-fists"  and  the  "  silk-stockings,"  few,  however,  began  to  cover  the 
blank  of  a  petition  with  signatures,  for  presentation  to  the  Senate  to  obtain  for 
Captain  H;irry  Love  authority  to  form  a  company  of  mounted  riflemen,  with 
whom  he  could  scour  the  country  and  clear  it  of  all  the  wretches  who  imperiled 
life  and  property  of  the  law-abiding.  A  law  was  passed  to  this  effect  and  signed 
by  the  Governor,  May  the  17th,  1853. 

The  Clauda  Duval  of  California  had  been  running  a  three  years'  race. 

On  ths  twenty-eighth  of  the  same  month,  by  which  you  will  see  the  Captain 
was  active,  Harry  Love  had  his  troop  mustered  in.  The  pay  was  each  man  a 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a  month,  the  company  to  have  three  months  existence, 
and  no  more  than  twenty  to  be  its  number.  Though  the  salary  was  a  mere 
flea-bite,  each  troopar  had  to  furnish  his  horse,  equipments,  keep,  and  everything 
without  any  grounds  for  indemnity,  a  proof  how  truly  they  were  volunteers. 
Love  had  picked  out  his  score  from  comrades  of  his  in  the  Texan  and  Mexican 
wars. 

Their  names  were  Colonel  McLane,  Major  W.  H.  Harvey,  Captain  P.  E. 
Conner,  Captain  W.  Burns,  Lieutenant  George  A.  Mittall,  Doctor  D.  S.  Hollis- 
ter,  John  Nuttall,  C.  F.  Bloodworth,  G.  W.  Evans,  W  S.  Henderson,  C.  W. 
McGovvan,  Robsrt  Masters,  Lafayette  Black,  the  Hon.  P.  S.  Herbert,  E.  B.  Van 
Dorn,  Piggott,  Norton  and  Charles  Young. 

These  set  out  from  San  Francisco,  pretty  well  determined  that  they  would 
not  sat  eyes  on  the  glorious  bay  and  its  Golden  Gates  unless  they  had  had  a 
tussle  with  the  bandit  and  come  off  first  best.  As  the  intrepid  little  band  rode 
through  the  towns  and  villages,  they  were  cheered  as  they  deserved  to  be,  and, 
if  th«3y  had  desired  drink,  they  might  have  floated  in  liquor,  for  Californums 
used  to  consider  libations  the  only  proper  offering  to  a  friend  or  one  to  whom 
Godspeed  was  wished.  Some  feared  that  the  party  was  too  small  but  they 
were  such  as  did  not  know  Harry  Love,  a  man  who  had  won  his  spurs  in 


Or,   The  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  157 

charges  with  heroes  of  the  Jack  Hayes  sort,  and  who  had  a  mind  superior  in  all 
points,  from  sagacity  to  fearlessness,  to  even  the  audacious  robber  against  whom 
he  was  pitted. 

The  first  tiling  Love  set  about  doing,  was  to  gain  complete  knowledge  of  the 
enemy's  movements,  his  last  halting  places,  his  freshest  tracks,  so  that  he  might 
fall  upon  him  at  the  moment  when  a  foe  has  least  expected  and  in  the  place 
which  would  be  most  favorable  to  him. 

On  the  third  of  June,  the  Pedro  Sanchez  who  had  been  at  San  Francisco  three 
months  before,  with  Three-fingered  Jack,  was  killed  at  Martinez  near  Columbia, 
by  a  Spaniard  named  Albino  Teba.  They  had  been  wrangling  about  some 
money  that  they  had  stolen  together,  when  Sanchez,  enraged  at  his  mate's  ob 
stinacy,  had  sprang  upon  him  knife  in  hand.  Senor  Teba  had  jumped  back, 
whipped  out  his  revolver  and  bestowed  four  of  its  charges  on  his  accomplice. 
Only  one  bullet  hit,  but  that  was  enough  to  blot  Pedro's  name  off  the  rolls  of  the 
band. 

By  a  strange  coincidence,  on  the  very  same  day,  Borilda  had  met  his  death  at 
Stockton  for  assassination.  He  had  been  charged  by  his  chief  to  kill  a  Mexican 
who  had  offended  the  latter,  and  in  trying  to  carry  out  his  orders,  he  had  mor 
tally  wounded  one  Janes,  who  had  been  in  the  same  room  with  the  Mexican 
doomed  by  Joaquin.  Borilda  was  proven  guilty  of  the  murder  of  three  men  and 
confessed  his  share  in  other  more  or  less  important  crimes.  A  day  or  two  be 
fore  his  execution,  he  had  made  himself  master  of  a  revolver  on  a  table  within 
his  reach,  and  had  tried  to  kill  himself,  but  it  had  missed  fire. 

Joaquin  Blanco,  the  third  companion  of  Three-fingered  Jack  at  San  Francisco, 
was  killed  at  Stockton  in  the  ensuing  year  by  a  countryman  of  the  name  of  Eu 
genie  Caesar. 

In  the  evening  of  the  ninth  of  June,  four  of  the  thieves,  having  forty  horses 
in  their  charge,  stopped  at  Andreas  Harra's  rancho,  about  twenty  miles  from 
San  Luis  Key  and,  without  any  provocation  whatever,  fired  on  the  former's 
family  and  wounded  one  of  them.  Then  they  pinioned  three  men  in  the  house 
carried  off  all  the  gold  and  valuables  on  which  they  could  lay  their  hands.  At 
San  Marco,  they  killed  two  young  steers. 

Next  day,  a  troop  left  San  Diego  to  pursue  them,  but  the  impossibility  of 
tracking  them  after  dark,  forced  them  to  throw  up  the  chase  then.  Messages 
were  sent  to  the  different  Indian  tribes  for  them  to  head  the  robbers  off,  but  the 
latter  had  had  time  to  reach  the  mountains.  A  few  days  afterwards,  eight 
horses  were  said  to  have  been  taken  at  Santa  Margarita. 

Pursued  on  all  sides  by  relentless  men  at  whose  hands  he,  the  offender, 
could  expect  no  mercy,  fearing  a  defeat  which  would  have  compromised  all  his 
hopes  and  designs  so  long  hugged  to  his  breast.  Joaquin  made  up  his  mind 
to  withdraw  into  concealment  until  he  should  have  the  reinforcements  from 
Sonora. 

In  the  commencement  of  July,  Murieta  took  fifty  head  of  horses  from  the 
rancho  of  Don  Andreas  Eico,  at  San  Fernando,  Los  Angelos  County.  He 
pushed  on  to  the  San  Francisco  Rancho  in  the  same  county,  where  a  ranchero 
told  him  bluntly  that  the  cattle  belonged  to  Pico  and  that  he  had  better  make 
restitution  or  he  would  get  into  trouble.  Murietta  actually  restored  all  but 
seven  of  the  stolen  animals  to  the  ranchero,  charging  him  to  take  them  back  to 
the  owner.  Then  he  crossed  in  Santa  Barbara  County  and  crossed  the  highest 
sea-coast  ground  to  Santa  Inez,  whence  he  could  easily  go  down  into  the  Sular 
Valley. 

Acting  upon  secret  intelligence  giving  him  as  certain  the  presence  of  the 
arch-robbers  in  this  district,  Captain  Love  moved  hitherward  with  a  dozen  men, 
while  the  rest  brightened  their  horses'  shoes  in  other  places.  On  crossing 
the  Sular  plains,  he  perceived  at  daybreak  a  patch  of  smoke  over  on  the  left. 
This  common  and  unimportant  sight  to  anybody  else  was  of  more  weight  to  the 


158  Joaquin,   (the  Claude  Duval  of  California}; 

veteran  ranger.  He  turned  that  way  and  cautiously  proceeded  towards  the 
smoke.  First,  he  only  saw  a  few  horses  hidden  five  hundred  yards  or  so  from 
the  fire,  but,  on  drawing  nearer  yet  and  ascending  a  low  butte,  he  discovered 
on  another  mound  the  Mexican  chief  of  marauders  in  person  and  only  six  of 
his  men. 

One  of  the  latter,  in  cooking,  discovered  the  enemy ;  he  gave  the  alarm,  but 
only  when  the  Americans  were  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  encampment. 

The  ravagers  rushed  to  horse,  while  on  spurred  the  rangers,  who  made  pris. 
oners  of  two  of  the  former  in  the  onset. 

Joaquin  had  scrambled  on  his  steed  and  was  fleeing  with  such  rapidity,  that 
he  had  a  likelihood  of  escape,  but  Love,  finding  him  nearly  out  of  range,  hastily 
put  a  bullet  in  his  horse's  side.  The  noble  animal  shuddered  for  a  moment 
but,  recovering  the  ardor  in  spite  of  its  wound,  bounded  on  again  more  im 
petuously  than  ever  for  at  least  fifty  yards.  But  Harry  Love  knew  where  a 
bullet  fired  by  him  ought  to  strike,  and  he  galloped  on  no  wise  despairing. 
Suddenly,  sure  enough,  the  fugitive  chief  saw  blood  spout  out  of  his  horse's 
nostrils  and  drip  from  its  mouth,  and  down  dropped  the  poor  beast  never  to 
carry  its  own  weight  ever  more. 

The  rider  shook  off  the  stirrups  and  ran  on  a-foot,  but  seeing  the  captain 
and  one  of  his  men  thundering  down  on  him,  he  turned  and  discharged  the  last 
two  loads  in  his  six  shooter.  At  the  same  time  a  shower  of  missiles  flew 
around  him  and  he  fell.  He  begged  his  captors  tu  fire  no  more. 

You've  beat  me — but  only  by  surprise,  he  gasped,  110  matter !  I'm  satisfied 
— I've  had  enough  revenge " 

Pale  from  loss  of  blook  by  several  bullet  holes,  he  pressed  his  left  hand  to 
his  breast,  leaned  on  his  other  arm  for  a  short  space  and  at  last  gave  up  the 
ghost. 

Meanwhile  Three-fingered  Jack  had  been  galloping  away,  pursued  by  two  or 
three  of  the  rangers.  Though  eleven  bullets  had  found  lodgement  in  his  body, 
he  rode  for  a  mile  and  a  half.  But  though  the  chasers  did  not  have  horses  as 
fine  as  his,  they  were  such  skilled  riders  that  they  kept  well  up  to  him.  At 
length  finding  he  could  not  shake  them  off,  he  wheeled  to  fire,  but  only  one  shot 
out  of  his  six  went  off.  Five  miss-fires  told  him  all  was  against  him.  He 
would  not  surrender  himself,  nevertheless,  and  as  he  swore  he  would  resist  to 
the  last,  Captain  Conner  dashed  up  to  him  with  a  "  spurt"  of  his  horse,  warded 
off  a  blow  of  the  butt  from  the  Mexican  and  gave  him  a  shot  in  return  which 
Jdlled  him  instantly. 

Fighting  had  been  going  on  in  the  meantime  at  other  points.  "When  the 
rangers  came  to  rally  around  Captain  Love,  they  brought  with  them  two  prison 
ers.  One  of  the  bandits  had  been  killed,  name  unknown.  Two  others  had  got 
off,  but  only  one  safe  and  sound,  for  his  partner  had  died  on  the  road  of 
wounds. 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

THE  PRISONERS'  FATE. — JOAQUIN'S  HEAD  AND  GARCTA'S  HAND. — THE  END. 

After  this  bloody  skirmish,  Captain  Love  collected  the  spoils  ;  the  valuable 
horses  which  were  restored  to  their  real  owners,  six  Mexican  saddles  more  or 
less  heavily  silvered,  as  many  revolvers,  silver  spurs,  fine  cloaks  and  a  pair  of 
holster  pistols.  As  the  successful  rangers  were  returning  to  San  Francisco, 
one  of  the  captives  broke  his  bonds  somehow  and  flung  himself  into  a  pool  of 
water,  where  he  drowned  himself.  His  companion  was  placed  in  the  Mariposa 
County  Jail,  where  he  remained  until  the  capturing  party  was  dissolved,  when 
he  was  taken  to  Martinez.  There,  he  made  a  confession  which  proved  the  par 
ticipation  of  a  great  number  of  his  countrymen  in  the  crimes  he  had  committed ; 
he  was  going  to  make  revelations  of  more  importance  still  in  order  to  be  state's 


Or,   TJie  Marauder  of  the  Mines.  159 

evidence,  when  he  was  prevented  this.  At  midnight  the  prison  doors  were 
burst  in  by  a  mob  of  Mexicans,  who  took  him  out  and  hanged  him.  As  Mexi 
cans  had  rarely  been  so  eager  to  anticipate  justice  by  lynching,  the  belief  is  that 
these  were  active  members  of  Joaquin' s  association  and  rancheroes,  who  were 
desirous  to  cut  short  their  repentant  partner's  avowals. 

Love's  men  had  only  one  object  in  view  now :  the  obtaining  of  the  reward* 
offered  throughout  the  country  to  the  captors  as  slayers  of  the  notorious  mur 
derer  and  marauder.  Most  assuredly,  they  had  earned  the  offers  by  the  courage 
they  had  displayed,  the  dangers  which  they  had  braved,  and  the  steadfastness 
with  which  they  had  pursued  Murieta  into  the  very  midst  of  his  band,  and,  to 
make  evident  reasons  short,  by  their  whole  conduct. 

The  public  of  course  had  to  be  furnished  with  proofs  of  the  facts. 

Otherwise  it  would  never  have  been  believed  that  the  famous  Joaquin  had 
been  killed,  despite  all  his  worth.  Captain  Love  would  have  had  shameful 
suspicions  attached  to  his  reputation.  So  he  had  to  do  what  in  other  cases,  he 
was  too  brave  to  have  dreampt  of,  that  is  give  the  order  for  Murieta's  head  to 
be  cut  Off  and  carried  to  the  nearest  town,  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  off,  to  be 
preserved  in  spirits. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  August,  Black  and  Nuttal  reached  San  Francisco  from 
Stockton,  bearing  the  head  of  the  famous  highwayman,  whose  countless  crimes 
had  given  him  an  unparalleled  name  in  the  annals  of  wrong-doing. 

The  astonishing  rapidity  of  his  actions,  the  number  of  his  accomplices,  the 
extent  of  his  operations  over  a  region  excessively  vast,  had  united  to  set  his 
name  up  simultaneously  in  opposite  quarters  so  often  that  some  people  actually 
deemed  him  a  myth,  to  whom  was  erroneously  attributed  all  the  guilt  of  all  the 
malefactors  in  the  land.  Even  after  his  death,  rumor  would  have  it  that  he  wras ' 
still  in  the  southern  counties,  continuing  his  system  of  daily  murders  and  pil 
laging  as  in  the  past  the  rancheroes  and  mining  camps. 

But  Black  and  Nuttall,  besides  the  caput  mortuum,  brought  with  them 
numerous  certificates  from  persons  who  had  been  acquainted  with  Joaquin ;  it 
was  therefore  impossible  to  doubt  the  identity  and  not  credit  the  assertions  of 
Captain  Love  and  his  gallant  comrades. 

The  head  was  on  exhibition  in  order  to  let  the  people  see  and  judge  for  them 
selves.  Thus  ran  the  placard  : 

JOAQUIN'S    HEAD  can  be  seen  at  "  Kinfs." 

corner  of  Halleck  and  Sansome  Streets,  opposite  the  American  Theatre. 
ADMISSION  ONE  DOLLAR. 

Among  the  numerous  guarantees  and  certificates  were  the  following : 

STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA,  (United  States),  County  of  San  Francisco.  Ignatio 
Lisarrago,  of  Sonora,  after  being  duly  sworn,  declares  that  he  has  seen  the  so- 
called  head  of  Joaquin,  now  in  the  hands  of  Messers  Nuttall  and  Black,  lieu 
tenants  of  Captain  Love's  independent  company,  which  head  is  exhibited  on  the 
premises  of  John  King,  Sansome  Street,  and  that  the  deponent  knew  well  Jo 
aquin  Murieta,  and  swears  that  the  aforesaid  head  is  really  and  truly  that  of 
the  Murieta  afore -mentioned. 

Signed:  IGNATIO  LISARRAGO. 
"Sworn  before  me,  this  17th  August,  A.  D.,  1853. 

"CHARLES  D.  CARTER,  Notary  Public. 

STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA  (U.  S.),  San  Joaquin   County. 

This  day,  the  eleventh  of  the  month  of  August  of  the  present  year  1853, 
appeared  before  me,  A.  C.  Baine,  criminal  judge  of  the  said  county,  in  person 
the  Reverend  Dominic  Blaive,  who  declared  under  oath,  conformably  to  law, 
that  he  had  known  for  two  years,  Joaquin  Murieta  the  famous  bandit;  and  fur 
ther  that  he  (the  deponent  aforesaid)  has  seen  the  head  which  is  at  present  in 
the  possession  of  Captain  Conner,  one  of  Captain  Harry  Love's  lieutenants  of 


160  Joaquin,  (the   Claude  Duval  of  California); 

his  independent  force,  and  that  he  believes  that  the  said  head  is  that  of  Joaquin 
himself,  known  to  him  as  declared  above. 

"  Signed :     DOMINIC  BLAIVE. 

"  Certified  and  signed  by  me,  on  date  of  these  presents : 
"A.  C.  BAINE,  Judge." 

This  happened  (let  us  say  to  give  another  meed  to  the  man  of  all  deserving 
it,  though  we  go  off  our  road),  under  the  French  Consulates,  as  the  antique 
Romans  say  of  Monsieur  Dillon,  one  of  the  most  estimable  of  gentlemen, 
whose  appointment  to  his  troublous  position  was  an  honor  to  his  country,  as 
to  that  of  his  residence,  and  almost  a  blessing  to  the  Queen  City  of  the  Pacific.' 
Nor  should  we  omit  on  this  occasion  to  speak  in  commendation  of  M.  Moren- 
heit,  sometime  French  Consul  at  Monterey,  who  was  ever  vigilant  in  aiding 
the  authorities.  Mons.  M.  was  a  true  type  of  the  French  gentleman. 

As  we  were  saying,  everybody  and  his  wife  and  child,  flocked  to  stare  at  the 
head  of  the  highwayman,  not  an  unhandsome  one,  by  any  means.  We  wonder, 
though,  that  the  lip  did  not  curl  with  scorn  and  the  eyes  flash  fire  at  the  remarks 
which  some  Yankee  phrenologists  passed  on  it,  in  our  hearing.  It  was  carried 
around  into  different  parts  of  the  state,  along  with  the  three-fingered  hand  of 
Garcia,  which  terrified  certain  superstitious  people  by  its  nails  having  grown  at 
least  an  inch  since  it  had  been  severed  from  the  wrist. 

After  a  formal  verification,  Colonel  John  Bigler,  governor  of  the  state,  had 
paid  over  to  Captain  Harry  Love  the  sum  of  a  thousand  dollars  which  he  had 
personally  promised  to  the  captor  of  the  bandit  dead  or  alive.  A  little  later 
May  the  15th,  1854,  the  Senate,  considering  firstly  that  the  ridding  the  land  of 
such  a  scourge  had  not  been  sufficiently  rewarded,  decreed  that  an  additional 
sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  should  be  allowed. 

Although  the  death  of  their  leader  was  an  irreparable  loss  to  his  followers  and 
even  compelled  them  to  disband,  they  broke  up  into  little  parties  and  continued 
a  desultory  skirmishing  which  sometimes  made  people  fancy  that  the  highway 
man's  spirit  was  up  in  arms  again. 

********* 

Towards  the  end  of  '54,  the  head  of  Murieta  was  sold  by  Deputy  Sheriff 
Harrison,  in  virtue  of  a  seizure  for  debt  against  the  owner  of  the  relic.  While 
the  bidding  was  at  its  height,  a  voice,  either  Irish  or  a  good  imitation,  and  earnest 
or  well-feigned,  cried  out  apparently  indignantly  : 

"  An'  is  it  sillin'  the  head  of  your  fellovv-crature,  ye  are !  The  saints  betime 
us,  ye'll  niver  have  anythin'  but  bad  cess  all  your  life !" 

The  bidding  had  run  up  to  three-and-sixty  dollars.  Down  fell  the  hammer, 
and  that's  the  price  the  head  went  for.  Here  comes  the  singular  part.  Not 
long  afterwards,  Harris(5n  committed  suicide.  The  buyer,  a  gunsmith,  known 

as  "  Natchez,"  was  accidentally  killed  in  showing  a  loaded  pistol  to  a  customer. 
*  *  *  *  *  •*     t       *  *  * 

Such  is  the  story  of  the  most  famous  bandit  that  the  world  ancient  or  modern 
ever  had  its  records  stained  with.  In  tracing  it  through  authentic  sources,  docu 
ments  and  the  newspapers  which  pioneered  the  literary  prides  of  the  present 
days  of  Altas,  Golden  Ages,  Mercuries,  etc.,  etc.,  perhaps  we  have  colored  the 
facts  a  little  vividly,  but  we  have  not  inserted  an  account  of  one  homicide  which 
was  not  true.  And  in  rounding  off  our  pages  relative  to  the  dark  days  of  the 
"  Golden  Land,"  let  us  express  our  wish  that  she  may  increase  in  all  freshness 
and  beauty,  and  riches,  and  that  she  will  continue  evermore  on  her  peaceful 
path,  the  frown  replaced  by  a  smile  of  happiness,  her  robes  no  more  trailed  in 

pld  and  purest  silver,  brighter  than  the 

"iters'  hearts ! 


blood  and  earth,  but  radiant  with  purest  go 
intelligence  of  her  sons,  pure  as  her  daught 

THE  END 


G.  W.  M.  REYNOLDS'  NOVEL! 


Ifo.  1 .  I-'AITST,  a  Romance  of  tlie  Secret  Tribunals    8vo,  paper.    50  Cents. 

Reynolds  is  never  so  truly  great  as  when  grappling  with  those  tearful  crimes  which  make  nations  ps 
their  recital.  In  this  book  we  have  the  dust  of  centuries  swept  away  and  awful  secrets  disclosed. 

No.  2.   WAGNER,  the  Welir  Wolf.     8vo,  paper.     50  Cents. 

All  peoples  have  in  their  traditions  stories  of  the  vampire-ghouls,  that,  stealing  into  the  hushed  chamt 
midnight,  have  drawn  the  blood  from  the  veins  of  sleeping  beauty.  This  great  writer  vivifies  the  le| 

No.  3.   Till:    EMPRESS    EUGENIE'S    BOUDOIR ;    or,   Mysteries   of 

Court  of  France.     8vo,  paper.     50  Cents. 

Grasping  the  heavy  velvet  curtains  with  a  hand  of  steel,  the  author  has  torn  away  all  concealment,  and 
the  light  Hood  the  salons  desecrated  by  Epicure  tu  and  Sybaritic  enjoyment. 

No.  4.  THE  YOUNG  DUCHESS  ;    or,  Memoir*  of  a  Lady  of  Quality. 

paper.     50  Cents. 

Wealth  has  its  temptations  as  well  as  penury.  Read  this  book  to  see  in  its  glaring  but  truthful  tints,  th 
ner  life  of  the  proudest  aristocracy  that  ever  scoffed  at  virtue,  and  made  rank  a  synonym  for  guilt. 

No.  5.  IMOGEN  HARTLAND  ;  or,  The  Star  of  the  Circus.    8vo,  paper.   50  Cc 

Few  who  gaze  upon  the  curled  and  spangled  darlings  who  nightly  tempt  being  dashed  to  death  in  the  a: 
know  aught  of  these  graceful  creatures'  temptations.  Reynolds  knew  them  all,  and  has  here  desc: 
them. 

No.  6.  ETHEL.  TREVOR  ;    or,  The  Duke'§  Victim.     8vo,  paper.    50  Cents. 

Had  the  earth  opened  and  swallowed  this  perjured  aristocrat  ere  he  did  his  victim  this  greatwrong.il 
been  well  with  him.  Our  author  holds  nothing  back— all— all  is  told. 

No.  7.  CANONBURY  HOUSE  ;  or,  The  Quee    'g  Prophecy.    8vo,  paper.  50  Ce 

There  are  few  scenes  in  history  so  black  and  bloody  as  those  that  form  the  staple  of  this  work.  Reyi 
never  weakens  his  pictures  by  omitting  any  incident,  however  splashed  with  gore. 

No.  8.  ADA  ARUNDEL. ;   or,  The  Secret  Corridor.     8vo,  paper.    50  Cents. 

Could  the  denizens  of  palaces  have  foreseen  that  the  day  would  come  when  all  their  follies  and  vices  wou; 
given  to  the  world  in  all  their  glaring  deformity,  they  Blight  have  acted  differently. 

No.  9.  OLIVIA  ;    or,  The  Maid  of  Honor.    8vo,  paper.    50  Cents. 

Reynolds  being  himself  of  noble  birth,  had  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  living  aristocracy,  and  m 
of  knowing  the  history  of  the  past.  Like  Mirabeau  he  has  unveiled  their  secret  loves  and  hates  relentle 

No.  1O.  OMAR  PASHA  ;    or,  The  Vizier's  Daughter.    8vo,  paper.    50  Cents.  - 

This  great  Turkish  general  underwent  strange  adventures,  both  in  harem  and  in  palace,  ere  his  surpri 
fortunes  culminated  by  his  promotion.  Our  author  tells  us  all  about  these  adventures. 

No.  11.  CATHARINE    VOLMAR  ;     or,   A   Father's    Vengeance.     8vo,   pa 

50  Cents. 

If  there  is  another  book  so  filled  with  events  to  interest,  delight,  and,  sometimes  to  appal,  we  confess  we  1 
never  read  It.  This  work  is  one  among  ten  thousand. 

No0  12.  THE   WHITE    LADY,   a   Romance  of  L,ove   and    War.    8vo,  pa 

50  Cents. 

All  that  the  most  poeti )  fa  icy  could  conceive  of  the  master-passions  of  the  human  heart  are  here  descr 
by  "  the  so  potent  ai  j  "  of  this  great  master  of  romantic  fiction. 

No.  13,  LEILA;    or,  The  Star  of  Mingrelia.    8  vo,  paper.    50  Cents. 

Rey noils  liere  takes  us  to  an  unexplored  region— the  very  home  of  romance — among  the  lovely  maidens  i 
"  which  1  he  ?eraglios  of  Constantinople  are  chosen.   Alas,  the  pictures  that  he  paints  have  a  sad  reverse  i 

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Scenes  fill  these  startling  pages  wild  as  the  region  where  they  transpire— in  the  land  of  the  mountain 
and  the  thundering  cataract,  passions  as  wild  and  deeds  as  fearful  are  shown  to  exist. 

No.  15.  THE  FIRST  FALSE  STEP-     or,  The  Path  of  Crime.    8vo,  paper.  50Ce 

If  the  silent  watcher  wfto  throws  the  beacon-liprht  icross  the  waste  of  waters  to  warn  the  incautious  mar 
deserves  praise,  how  much  more  the  great  writer  who  points  the  unwary  to  the  fatal  path  that  lead 
destruction. 

No.  16.  ROSE  SOMERVILL.E  ;  or,  A  Husband's  Mystery.    8vo,  paper.    50  Ce 

The  mantle  of  mystery  that  enshrouds  the  principal  character  in  this  book  baffles  conjecture  and  excites c 
osity.  It  is  truly  a  wonderful  story— none  but  itself  can  be  its  parallel. 

No.  17.  THE  MISER'S  WILL  ;    or,  The  Doom  of  the  Poisoner.    8vo,  paj 

50  Cents. 

We  may  ransack  libraries  for  years  without  meeting  with  a  volume  that  so  completely  takes  our  reason  ] 
oner  and  hurries  us  along  with  such  bated  breath  from  first  to  last. 

No.  18.  THE   PALACE  OF  INFAMY  ;    or,  The  Slave  Woman  of  Eng  an 

8vo,  paper.     50  Cents. 

When  we  read  this  dreadful  recital  of  the  snares  and  pitfalls  set  for  the  innocent  daughters  of  povert 
England,  we  cannot  help  wishing  for  some  thunderbolt"  red  with  uncommon  wrath,"  to  dash  the  betrj 
to  the  earth  they  disgrace. 

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fii  presenting  this  Series  of  intensely  interesting  SEA  ROMANCES  to  the  Reading  Com- 
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LIST  OF  BOOKS  COMPRISING  THE 

'RED   WOLF"   SERIES. 


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This  volume  opens  wish  incidents  occur  ring:  at  a.  vi;isqiierade.  The  masked  Strange* 
appear!*—  The  Yankee  Privateer  and  King  of  the  Waves—  The  Beautiful  Sister 
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a.  5.  Jamba,  the  Black 

I  lie  Plot—  The  Deed  of  Blood—  The  Pirate  fitinu  11  >  ike.-  Privateer  to  Death 

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6.  The  Black  Eagl< 


V:glU  on  the  Waters  A  Treacherous  Trick  'I  he  I  atttiit  a%£  hi*  Charge— The  Lone 
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*.  7.  Diana,  the  Sorceress. 

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